Delhi Pollution Panel Okays Vehicle Exemption For People With Disabilities

Thu Nov 28 17:26:08 UTC 2024: ## Delhi Air Pollution: Supreme Court Extends GRAP Stage IV, But Allows Some Easing

**New Delhi:** The Supreme Court has extended the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) Stage IV restrictions in Delhi-NCR to combat severe air pollution until December 2nd. However, the court has directed the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to meet and consider easing some restrictions, potentially moving to Stage III or II. The exception to the continued Stage IV measures is in relation to schools.

The CAQM has already acted to ease some restrictions within Stage III and IV, allowing individuals with disabilities to continue driving their personally adapted vehicles, even if they are older, polluting models (BS-IV diesel or BS-III petrol), for personal use only. This is despite a general ban on such vehicles in the region.

The court expressed serious concerns about reports suggesting that stubble burning in Punjab is being allowed after 4 pm to avoid satellite detection. The bench directed the Punjab government to immediately instruct officials to cease such practices.

The Supreme Court also criticized the complete failure to enforce the GRAP Stage IV restrictions on truck entry into Delhi, noting a lack of police enforcement and a subsequent influx of trucks into the city. The court emphasized that this issue needs immediate attention. The hearing underscored the ongoing challenges in controlling air pollution levels in the Delhi-NCR region.