In a bid to combat the escalating air pollution crisis, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed nine states, including Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, and Jharkhand, to reassess their strategies and implement effective measures to enhance air quality in their cities. The NGT’s recent evaluation of the Air Quality Index (AQI) between November 3 and 10 exposed deficiencies in the efforts made by authorities, prompting urgent action.
On November 3, the NGT instructed the chief secretaries of seven states to swiftly implement pollution control measures and report progress by November 10. Despite compliance from these states, there has been little improvement in air quality, leading the NGT to extend the directive to two additional states, urging reports on actions taken by November 22.
The NGT emphasizes the grave health impact of declining air quality, especially on vulnerable populations such as infants and the elderly. The directive specifically targets states where AQI levels persist at ‘severe,’ ‘very poor,’ and ‘poor’ categories, urging immediate remedial measures.
Reports submitted by the seven initial states primarily focused on long-term pollution control plans, leaving the NGT dissatisfied with the lack of immediate action. Consequently, the NGT instructs state authorities and chief secretaries to reassess their approach, identifying major pollution sources and implementing immediate control measures.
Recent weeks have seen fluctuating air quality in Delhi-NCR, reaching ‘severe-plus’ levels in certain areas due to unfavorable wind conditions. On November 8, the central government’s pollution control panel activated stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), mandating emergency measures like a ban on polluting vehicles and construction activities if AQI exceeds 450.
The NGT’s mandate underscores the urgency of addressing air pollution and emphasizes the need for swift and effective action to protect public health.
