According to the Supreme Court’s ruling on Monday, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) for Delhi and the surrounding areas was criticised for postponing the implementation of graded response action plan (GRAP) 3 and 4 curbs.
As a result, schools will remain closed throughout the National Capital Region and GRAP 4 restrictions will apply until further orders. The court’s remarks were made on what may have been Delhi’s worst day for air pollution. The 24-hour average score at 4 p.m. was 494.
Although the AQI was previously higher (497), that was when there were many fewer monitoring stations than there are now. Delhi and its surroundings were shrouded in a funereal shroud of grey haze due to a combination of factors, including smoke and particulate matter from field fires in Punjab, local pollutants (mostly from automobiles), a rapid drop in temperature, a change in wind direction, and a decrease in wind speeds.
The court then issued a number of directives, requesting that state governments establish teams to oversee the enforcement and implementation of curbs under Stage 4, which calls for a construction ban, and that public and private offices operate at half strength. The court posted the case for additional consideration on Friday.
The court ordered Delhi and NCR states to decide whether to offer online classes to all pupils and notify them by Friday, even though Delhi schools had halted in-person instruction for Classes 1 through 9 and Class 11. Additionally, big goods vehicles (except from those transporting necessities) are prohibited from entering under GRAP 4.