New Delhi, India

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Air quality in the Indian capital New Delhi has once again deteriorated to the 'severe' category, with the 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching 401 by 6:00 pm (local time) on Friday (Nov 22). Out of the 39 monitoring stations across the city, 19 reported AQI levels in the "severe" range.

After nearly a week of severe and "severe-plus" air pollution, there was a brief improvement on Friday morning when the AQI dropped to 371, categorised as 'very poor.' However, this respite was short-lived as by evening, the pollution levels deteriorated again, with the AQI crossing 400.

For context, the AQI categories are defined as follows: 0-50 is "good," 51-100 is "satisfactory," 101-200 is "moderate," 201-300 is "poor," 301-400 is "very poor," and 401-500 is "severe."

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Supreme Court raps Delhi govt over lapses in enforcement of GRAP-4

The Supreme Court addressed the pollution crisis on Friday and announced that it would decide on November 25 whether the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP)-4 restrictions in Delhi should be eased. 

Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih expressed dissatisfaction with the enforcement of GRAP-4 measures, particularly regarding the entry of trucks carrying non-essential goods into Delhi.

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The apex court also criticised the lack of checks at entry points to the city. It ordered the Delhi Police to set up check posts at all 113 entry points into the city to enforce the restrictions effectively.

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"Out of 113, almost 100 entry points are unmanned in the sense that there is nobody to check the entry of trucks... We direct the Delhi government and Delhi Police to ensure that check posts are immediately set up at all 113 entry points," the court observed.

The GRAP-IV guidelines prohibit the entry of BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel vehicles into Delhi. This measure was implemented as air pollution reached the "severe plus" category earlier in the week.

It added, "As far as stopping entry of trucks and entry of vehicles registered outside Delhi is concerned, we are not satisfied. The (Delhi) government has not stated clearly as to at how many entry points, there are teams present to prevent the entry of vehicles."

It also said that personnel manning these points must be well-informed about the orders given by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led government. "Personnel who monitor these points should be clearly told what the accepted items are mentioned in the order issued by the government of Delhi. Trucks and other vehicles covered by clause 1 and 2 carrying only items in clause 3 should be allowed entry. There is failure on the part of the Delhi government and police to implement clauses," the court added.

(With inputs from agencies)