Supreme Court Seeks Report as Only 9 of 37 Delhi Air Monitors Worked During Diwali
The Supreme Court was informed that out of 37 air quality monitoring stations in Delhi, only 9 were operational during Diwali, raising concerns about the accuracy of pollution data and implementation of pollution control measures. The Court directed the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to submit a status report amid worsening air quality in the capital.
During a Supreme Court hearing, it was revealed that only 9 of Delhi's 37 air quality monitoring stations were functioning during the recent Diwali festival, severely compromising reliable data collection on pollution levels. Senior Advocate Aparajita Sinha, acting as amicus curiae, stressed the need for a detailed report from the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) regarding the current air quality and monitoring status. The Court instructed CAQM to file this report promptly. This deficiency raises serious questions about the enforcement of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in Delhi-NCR, as non-functional monitors hinder timely pollution control measures. Additionally, reports indicate that water spraying around monitoring stations may have been used to artificially improve Air Quality Index (AQI) readings. The deteriorating air quality following Diwali has prompted medical experts to advise people to temporarily avoid Delhi. The Supreme Court had permitted burning green crackers but now seeks concrete action and clarity on effective pollution management in the capital.
