Thu Dec 19 18:06:55 UTC 2024: ## Delhi’s Waste Crisis Prompts Supreme Court Intervention
**NEW DELHI, December 20, 2024** – The Supreme Court of India criticized the Delhi government’s handling of air pollution and waste management, likening emergency measures like the Graded Action Response Plan (GRAP) to “medicine given to an already critical patient.” The court highlighted the alarming daily generation of 3,000 tonnes of untreated municipal solid waste in Delhi, creating significant health and environmental hazards.
Justice A.S. Oka, leading the bench, expressed concern over the continued growth of waste generation, particularly due to ongoing large-scale housing projects. The court questioned the efficacy of the Delhi government’s biomining initiatives, noting the city’s capacity to process only 8,000 tonnes of waste daily against a generation of 11,000 tonnes. While the government projects a reduction in the gap by mid-2027, the court countered that the problem would only worsen without significant changes.
The court directed the Delhi Chief Secretary to submit a report detailing landfill fires and preventative measures over the past year. The court also noted that GRAP-IV restrictions, implemented due to a recent spike in pollution, are insufficient to address the root causes of the problem.
In a related move, the court instructed NCR states to provide subsistence allowances to workers affected by GRAP-IV restrictions, using funds from the labour cess, regardless of worker registration status. The ruling underscores the urgent need for comprehensive and proactive solutions to Delhi’s escalating waste and pollution crisis.
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