Apex court orders ‘work from home’ over pollution in Delhi
SC told authorities to shut offices in the capital and nearby cities, allowing millions to work from home as officials seek ways to reduce hazardous air pollution that led to the closure of schools
India’s Supreme Court (SC) told authorities on Monday to shut offices in the capital and nearby cities, allowing millions to work from home as officials seek ways to reduce hazardous air pollution that led to the closure of schools.
Its action came ater city authorities in New Delhi, which has been batling a toxic haze since early November, took emergency measures on Saturday, ordering the closure of schools and building work for four days.
“We direct the Centre and states of the national capital region to impose work from home for the meantime,” said Chief Justice NV Ramana, head of a panel of three judges considering a petition by a city resident.
The court also sought urgent steps to rein in crop waste fires in the neighbouring states of Haryana, Punjab and Utar Pradesh, set by hundreds of thousands of farmers looking to clear fields for a new sowing season.
“We want action on the issue,” said Justice Surya Kant.
Although the court did not set a deadline for the action by authorities, it will next take up the pollution issue on Wednesday.
India’s efforts to reduce the burning of crop waste, a major source of air pollution during winter, have had litle benefit, despite its expenditure of billions of rupees over the past four years.
An index of air quality stood at 343 on a scale of 500 in Delhi on Monday, a sign of “very poor” conditions that can cause respiratory illness on prolonged exposure.
The capital experienced severe conditions late last week as temperatures dropped and the index reached 499.
The Supreme Court also ordered measures to halt vehicle traffic that is not essential, cut industrial pollution and limit dust.
Contributors to the poor air quality in Delhi, oten ranked the world’s most polluted capital, include coal-fired plants outside the city as well as the burning of rubbish in the open.
The bench, also comprising Justices DY Chandrachud and Surya Kant, noted that the Centre in its affidavit has submited that stubble burning is not a major factor leading to severe air pollution level in the capital, rather the agricultural burning leads to merely 11 per cent contribution on PM 2.5 and PM 10 concentration.
The top court told the Centre to call an emergency meeting of Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and Utar Pradesh governments on Tuesday for taking urgent measures to bring down air pollution levels.
The top court also told the state governments to not take action against farmers, rather persuade them to stop stubble burning.
“Don’t take action against farmers, persuade them,” said the bench.
The bench emphasised that action is required to be taken on vehicular pollution, industrial pollution and dust control measures, which contributes nearly 76 per cent to the air pollution.
The Delhi government has told the Supreme Court that it is ready to take steps like complete lockdown to control the local emission, which would help in bringing down the air pollution in the national capital, but added that it will have only a limited impact.
In an affidavit, the Delhi government said: “GNCTD is ready to take steps like complete lockdown to control local emissions.
“However, such a step would be meaningful if it is implemented across the NCR areas in neighbouring states. Given Delhi’s compact size, a lockdown would have limited impact on the air quality regime.”
The government said this issue would need to be addressed at the level of airshed involving the NCR areas.
The bench, citing the Centre’s affidavit, said stubble burning is only contributing 4 per cent to air pollution in winters.
According to the Centre’s affidavit, stubble burning is not a major factor leading to severe air pollution level in the capital, rather the agricultural burning leads to merely 11 per cent contribution to PM 2.5 and PM 10 concentration.
The bench queried Mehra, “How many machines do you have for road cleaning?”
As Mehra started making submissions, Justice Kant said: “These kind of lame excuses will force us to hold an audit of the revenue you are earning and spending on the popularity slogans.”