Delhi Air Pollution: Supreme Court raps Kejriwal govt, asks Centre to convene emergency meeting

Supreme Court asks the Centre and States of NCR region to consider work from home for the employees in the meantime; also asks Chief secretaries of Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana to be present for tomorrow's emergency meeting by the Centre. Hearing to resume on November 17. 

Supreme Court directs Centre to call for an emergency meeting tomorrow over issues like stopping construction, non-essential transport, power plants and implementing work from home to deal with air pollution in Delhi-NCR.

Supreme Court concludes that major culprits of air pollution are transport, industries, vehicular traffic apart from stubble burning in some areas.

Centre tells Supreme Court that stubble burning is not the major cause of pollution at present in Delhi and northern states, as it contributes to only 10% of the pollution. 

Supreme Court tells Centre and State Govt that this is not how an executive emergency meeting was expected to be held, says, "It's very unfortunate that we have to set an agenda for them"; asks the committee created to decide on the action plan by tomorrow evening. The court asks Centre and State Government to respond by tomorrow evening over which industries can be stopped, which vehicles can be prevented from plying and which power plants can be stopped, & how you can provide alternative power by then.

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai to hold a meeting with Delhi Metro & DTC (Delhi Transport Corporation) officers today. Strengthening of public transport in wake of pollution crisis & increasing the number of rounds of Metro & DTC will be taken up for discussion.

The minimum temperature in Delhi was recorded at 10.3 degrees Celsius, three notches below the season's average, on Monday morning. The relative humidity stood at 90 per cent at 8.30 am.

Delhi's air quality remained in the 'very poor' category for the second consecutive day on Monday, with the AQI being recorded at 342. The air quality index of Ghaziabad, Greater Noida, Gurgaon and Noida stood at 328, 340, 326 and 328 respectively at 9.05 am. An AQI between zero and 50 is considered 'good', 51 and 100 'satisfactory', 101 and 200 'moderate', 201 and 300 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor', and 401 and 500 'severe'.

The government said that given Delhi's compact size, a lock down would have limited impact on the air quality regime. "We are ready to consider this step if the same is mandated for the entire NCR areas by the Government of India or by the Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas," the AAP government said in an affidavit submitted to the Supreme Court. 

The Delhi government told Supreme Court that it is ready to take steps like complete lockdown, but it will have only a limited impact. The government in an affidavit added that a lockdown is needed for the neighbouring areas of Delhi too, which come under the National Capital Region (NCR).

The concerned departments have been directed to shut down diesel generator sets and coal kilns in Delhi, increase parking fees, increase the frequency of metro and bus and provide heaters to guards from RWAs. He added that the second phase of the anti-dust campaign is being run from November 12 and will continue for a month.

The Delhi government released a statement, in which it quoted Gopal Rai as saying that on November 9, a high-level meeting was conducted and it was decided that five strict steps will be taken to provide relief to the people of the city from the pollution problem as soon as possible. Gopal Rai said according to a decision taken at the meeting, an anti-open burning campaign will be run from November 11 to December 11. 

Terming the rise in air pollution in Delhi-NCR an "emergency" situation, the Supreme Court had asked the Centre and the Delhi government on Saturday to take immediate measures to improve the air quality and suggested steps such as stopping vehicles and clamping a lockdown in the national capital.

The government employees of all departments except those involved in emergency services will work from home till November 17. An advisory has also been issued to private firms to allow work from home for their employees as well. The notification said an uninterrupted delivery of public services shall be ensured by all the departments and agencies.

The notification issued by the environment secretary of the Delhi government said all construction activities will be closed in the city till November 17 with immediate effect. It said all offices of the Delhi government, autonomous bodies and corporations will remain closed till November 17, except those involved in emergency services such as health and family welfare, medical establishments, police, the environment department, the public works department and the fire department, among others.

Delhi's Environment Minister Gopal Rai said that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government will submit a proposal on clamping a lockdown in view of the rising air pollution in the national capital and its modalities to the Supreme Court on Monday. Notably, people are facing health issues in Delhi-NCR and visibility has also lowered at several places as the region is reeling under hazardous pollution levels since Diwali.

The Environment Ministry has issued a notification for effective implementation of the emergency measures announced by the city government to tackle air pollution. Delhi's Environment Minister Gopal Rai said that all schools, libraries and institutions will remain shut till November 20, except those where exams are being conducted. Construction and demolition activities will be banned till November 17.