Supreme Court sets 4-week deadline for Delhi pollution action plan: Older vehicles to face crackdown

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): The Supreme Court has taken a very strict stand on the continuously worsening pollution level in the country's capital Delhi and NCR. While hearing the case, the Supreme Court has clearly directed the Central and Delhi Government to present their 'action plan' within the next 4 weeks to improve the air quality. The court has clearly said that the 15 long term measures suggested by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) should be implemented without any delay. These measures include important steps like removal of polluting vehicles, metro expansion and new electric vehicle policy.

A three-judge bench issued an ultimatum

On Wednesday, a three-member bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice Vipul M. Pancholi heard the matter. The bench directed the central government, the Delhi government, and all other concerned parties to submit to the court within four weeks an action plan based on the CAQM's measures to improve the declining Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi-NCR. The court made it clear that it would no longer entertain any objections or excuses to these recommendations.

Emphasis on metro expansion and removal of old vehicles

At the beginning of the hearing, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Aishwarya Bhati, representing the CAQM, presented the Commission's status report. She informed the court that the Commission has formulated detailed long-term measures to address pollution. The most prominent of these measures is the phased removal of polluting vehicles from Delhi-NCR based on their emissions. Furthermore, emphasis has been placed on further tightening the Pollution Under Control (PUC) regime, expanding the rail and metro networks, and implementing a revised electric vehicle policy.

Demand to fix deadline, discussion on fund also

During the hearing, senior advocate Aparajita Singh, amicus curiae (friend of the court), also presented her case. She argued that similar measures had been suggested in previous plans, but they had not been fully implemented. Therefore, the Honorable Court should set a strict deadline for these recommendations. ASG Bhati informed the court that agencies had been identified that would provide the Environmental Compensation Charge Fund (ECC Fund) to implement these measures.

Now direct action will be taken against BS-IV vehicles

This hearing will have the greatest impact on older vehicles plying Delhi's roads. The Supreme Court has amended its interim order of August 12th, granting authorities greater powers. Authorities will now be able to take stricter action against older vehicles that do not meet Bharat Stage-IV (BS-4) standards. This court order clearly indicates that the crackdown on polluting vehicles in Delhi will intensify in the coming days.