Delhi Air Quality Worsens, Supreme Court Blasts Centre

Aakhir Tak – In Shorts

1. Delhi’s air quality deteriorates, prompting the Supreme Court to slam the Centre.
2. The Court criticized the weakening of the Environmental Protection Act and ordered the Centre to enforce rules within 10 days.
3. Stubble burning in neighboring states worsens air quality, with several areas in Delhi now in the “severe” category.

Aakhir Tak – In Depth

Delhi’s air quality has once again reached hazardous levels, prompting the Supreme Court to harshly criticize the Centre. In a hearing on Wednesday, the court expressed its displeasure over amendments to the Environmental Protection Act, which replaced criminal punishment with mere fines. The Supreme Court declared that the Act has become “toothless” and that the Centre has failed to create the necessary enforcement mechanism.

Representing the Centre, Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati assured the court that rules would be finalized within 10 days, and the Act would be fully operational. The Court further stated that punitive measures need to be reinstated to combat the increasing pollution, emphasizing that stricter steps must be taken to control the situation.

Delhi’s deteriorating air quality is largely attributed to stubble burning in the neighboring states of Haryana and Punjab. As winter approaches, air quality in many areas of Delhi has plunged from “very poor” to “severe.” In its previous hearing, the Supreme Court had admonished the governments of Punjab and Haryana for their failure to enforce the ban on stubble burning effectively.

With pollution levels soaring to dangerous levels, the health impacts are becoming increasingly severe, necessitating urgent action from the government. The Court made it clear that if the rules are not implemented, strict consequences would follow.

Aakhir Tak Editor-in-Chief

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