New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday (November 28) said that all Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP)-IV measures except for schools shall continue in the National Capital Region (NCR) till Monday.
A bench comprising Justice Abhay S Oka and Justice Augustine George Masih, while hearing the matter of air pollution in Delhi and NCR, directed the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to hold a meeting in the meantime to decide on easing the restrictions and said that there can be a combination of measures from grade 3 and grade 4.
“We make it clear that all GRAP-IV measures except for schools shall be continued till Monday,” the bench said and added that it will continue hearing the air pollution matter to find a long-term solution to the problem.
What did the apex court say earlier?
The bench earlier this week, while hearing the matter, had said that the GRAP-IV measures will continue in the National Capital Region (NCR) unless it is satisfied that there is consistent downward trend of the Air Quality Index (AQI). It had earlier expressed its dissatisfaction on non-restriction on vehicles banned under the GRAP-IV at only 13 major entry points and had appointed 13 court commissioners to ascertain that the restrictions of GRAP-IV are being implemented at those entry points or not.
Report shows abject failure by various authorities to permit entry of trucks: Apex Court
The bench on Thursday perused the report filed court commissioners appointed by it and said that the report shows abject failure by various authorities to permit entry of trucks while GRAP-IV measures were in force.
Apex Court also went through the compliance report filed by the CAQM
The bench also went through the compliance report filed by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) and noted that show cause notices have been issued to authorities for taking action.
The bench also took note of a media report showing that land record officers were advising farmers to burn stubble after 4 pm and directed the Punjab government to immediately advise all officers to not indulge in such actions, saying that if it is correct, it is a violation and state authorities cannot advise such.
The apex court had earlier expressed its dissatisfaction over a “serious lapse” on the parts of the Delhi government and the Delhi police in the strict implementation of GRAP-IV measures and had directed the CAQM to take action against the erring officials.
