Delhi Air Crisis: SC Pulls Up Authorities Over Defunct Monitoring Stations Amid Rising Pollution Levels

As Delhi grapples with worsening air pollution, the Supreme Court on Monday (3 November) asked authorities to submit a report on several air quality monitoring stations that are reportedly non-functional.

During the hearing, a counsel appearing before the top court questioned how the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) could be enforced effectively without crucial pollution data, reported India Today.

Amicus curiae Aparajita Singh urged the Supreme Court to direct the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to take proactive measures to curb rising pollution levels.

"They have to act before it becomes severe,” the counsel submitted, highlighting that many monitoring stations in Delhi were not operational.

The counsel also pointed out that only 9 out of 37 stations were functioning during Diwali. “If that’s the case, how will we know when to implement GRAP?” he asked.

In response, Chief Justice of India BR Gavai instructed the CAQM and CPCB to file a detailed report outlining the steps being taken to prevent further deterioration of air quality.

The bench, comprising CJI Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran, said, “The CPCB, in consultation with the State Pollution Control Boards and their respective regional offices within the districts coming under the NCR shall monitor the air quality index in their respective jurisdictions from October 14 to 25 and file a report, specifying the air quality of each day.”

The bench added that regional offices should “also take samples of sand and water from sites having more density of use for analysis.”

The hearing comes as Delhi continues to experience very poor air quality. On Monday morning (3 November), the city recorded an overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of 316, with 28 monitoring stations registering ‘very poor’ levels above 300, signaling severe pollution challenges.

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