The Supreme Court of India on Monday raised serious questions about the effectiveness of the government's action plan to combat the severe air pollution crisis in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR). The apex court suggested that the Centre and concerned authorities must revisit their strategies to assess whether any tangible improvements have been achieved.
Court Calls for Honest Evaluation of Anti-Pollution Measures
Chief Justice U.U. Lalit, heading the bench, posed pointed questions to the government's counsel. "Why don’t you make a revisit to your action plan to see for yourself that have you brought any effective changes?" the CJI asked. He emphasized the need for a critical assessment to determine if the steps taken have been effective, ineffective, or less effective than required. The court underscored that despite any hesitance, a revisit and honest evaluation of the implemented measures is essential.
Beyond Stubble Burning: SC Seeks Scientific Analysis of All Factors
In a significant observation, the Supreme Court moved the discourse beyond the commonly blamed practice of stubble burning. The bench asked Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, representing the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), to detail other contributing factors to the pollution spike. The court noted it is "very easy to put the blame on the section (farmers) who remain unrepresented before us." It directed that a scientific analysis of all pollution sources must be considered.
Highlighting the changing reality on the ground, the bench questioned, "Stubble-burning was happening as usual. Why could people see blue skies 4-5 years ago? Why couldn’t they see now?" This query implicitly pointed to the role of local, perennial pollution sources like vehicular emissions, industrial discharge, and construction dust that plague the capital year-round.
Regular Hearings to Ensure Accountability
Acknowledging the cyclical nature of the crisis, the Supreme Court stated that it will hear the air pollution matter at least twice every month. While the situation may improve after winter, the court warned that "history will repeat itself" without sustained and effective action. The matter has been scheduled for the next hearing on December 10.
This directive from the top court signals a push for greater accountability and data-driven policy-making in the long-standing battle for clean air in one of the world's most polluted regions.
