Supreme Court Revises Ban on Older Vehicles in Delhi-NCR to Combat Air Pollution

Supreme Court's Updated Directive on Vehicle Ban

On Wednesday, the Supreme Court adjusted its previous ruling from August, which prohibited any coercive measures against owners of older vehicles in the Delhi-National Capital Region. This ruling specifically targeted diesel vehicles over ten years old and petrol vehicles exceeding fifteen years, as reported by a legal news outlet.

A panel consisting of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul Pancholi stated that vehicles meeting Bharat Stage-III or lower emission standards could face enforcement actions, including impounding.

In 2018, the Supreme Court had implemented a ban on diesel vehicles older than ten years and petrol vehicles older than fifteen years in Delhi to address air quality issues. This ban took effect on July 1.

As part of the enforcement strategy, automatic number plate recognition cameras were set up at around 350 petrol stations throughout the national capital to identify these vehicles.

In an interim ruling on August 12, the Supreme Court indicated that no actions should be taken against older vehicles while considering a petition from the Delhi government.

The ruling party criticized the ban, labeling it as 'arbitrary' and arguing that the 2018 decision had created significant difficulties for many residents in Delhi.

They also pointed out that stricter pollution control measures have since been implemented, including a broader Pollution-Under-Control certificate system and the introduction of Bharat Stage-VI standards.

The recent order was prompted by a request from the Commission for Air Quality Management, which argued that the previous blanket protection hindered state authorities from addressing higher-emission vehicles effectively.

The commission informed the court that approximately 37% of the nearly 2.3 crore vehicles in the Delhi-NCR region operate under BS-III or older standards, emitting significantly more particulate matter compared to compliant models.

Supreme Court Critiques Pollution Control Efforts

The Supreme Court also expressed strong disapproval of the existing pollution control strategies in Delhi and the National Capital Region, labeling them a 'total failure.'

Highlighting that air pollution has become a recurring issue, the court instructed the commission to develop a comprehensive long-term strategy to tackle the crisis.

The commission was tasked with focusing on urban mobility, cleaner industrial practices, energy efficiency, and addressing stubble burning.

Additionally, the court urged the commission to devise incentives for farmers to cease stubble burning and utilize crop residues for alternative purposes.

It also emphasized the need for regulating construction activities and providing alternative employment when such work is paused due to pollution control measures.

The Supreme Court called for an increase in green spaces across Delhi.

The Commission for Air Quality Management oversees the Graded Response Action Plan, which consists of a series of incremental anti-pollution measures activated when air quality deteriorates beyond a certain threshold.

Current Air Quality Status in Delhi

As of Thursday, Delhi's air quality remained classified as 'very poor.'

The average Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 358 at 7:05 AM, based on data from the Sameer application, which provides hourly updates from the Central Pollution Control Board.

Out of the city's 40 monitoring stations, four reported AQI levels exceeding 400, while 32 stations recorded values above 300.

Delhi's air quality has significantly declined over the past week, with the average AQI rising from 307 on December 11 to 461 on December 14.

An AQI reading between 301 and 400 indicates 'very poor' air quality, while values from 401 to 450 signify 'severe' pollution, and anything above 450 is categorized as 'severe plus.'

Such high AQI levels pose serious health risks even to healthy individuals.

The recent deterioration in air quality has been attributed to unfavorable weather conditions, including low wind speeds caused by a western disturbance.

Stage 4 restrictions of the Graded Response Action Plan have been enacted in Delhi and the surrounding National Capital Region.

The region has consistently experienced poor air quality since mid-October.

Delhi often ranks as the world's most polluted capital, with winter months exacerbating the situation due to stubble burning in neighboring states, vehicular emissions, firecracker use during festivals, and industrial pollution.