New Delhi, 15 December (H.S.):

The Supreme Court announced on Monday it will hear a critical plea addressing the escalating air pollution crisis in Delhi-NCR on December 17, amid ongoing complaints of inadequate enforcement by authorities despite existing preventive protocols.

A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, alongside Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M. Pancholi, acknowledged submissions from senior advocate Aprajita Singh, appointed as amicus curiae. Singh highlighted that while measures under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) remain in place, implementation by pollution control boards and state agencies falls short until judicial intervention compels action.

The court expressed frustration over recurring non-compliance, noting that Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) has hovered in the severe category this winter, with levels exceeding 450 at key monitoring stations like Anand Vihar and Dwarka.This development follows Stage IV GRAP restrictions, including bans on non-essential trucks entering Delhi and hybrid school modes, as winter fog exacerbates toxic smog trapping pollutants from stubble burning, vehicular emissions, and industrial activity.

The apex court's intervention underscores the persistent public health emergency, with hospitals reporting surges in respiratory cases among vulnerable groups.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar