Delhi pollution: Supreme Court flags rising vehicle emissions, seeks crackdown plan from 4 states

The Supreme Court has flagged a sharp rise in vehicular emissions as an urgent concern in the worsening Delhi-NCR pollution crisis, directing Delhi and three neighbouring states to detail the steps they are taking to keep over-age and non-compliant vehicles off the region's roads.

The court has sought responses from Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan, along with the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and Delhi Police, on existing enforcement measures and additional interventions planned to curb vehicle pollution.

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A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana asked the authorities to spell out how they identify, monitor and regulate vehicles that fail to meet prescribed emission standards, including through enforcement of Pollution Under Control (PUC) certification requirements.

The directions were issued on November 6 while the apex court was hearing a suo motu case on air pollution in the National Capital Region (NCR).

Fewer stubble fires, more tailpipe trouble

The bench observed that although incidents of stubble burning had fallen substantially across Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan, vehicular pollution was emerging as an increasingly pressing problem.

"While this development is certainly laudable, the same data also brings to the fore a converse and equally pressing concern, namely, the sharp increase in issues attributable to vehicular emissions," the court said.

It pointed out that Delhi's air pollution burden could not be assessed in isolation, given the movement of vehicles across the interconnected NCR, with substantial traffic entering the capital from neighbouring states.

"The situation is further compounded by the substantial volume of both commercial and non-commercial vehicles entering and plying within the city from different parts of the region, thereby adding to the existing vehicular emission load," the bench said.

"There can be little doubt that the issue warrants urgent and immediate intervention," it added.

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SC wants action, not just emission checks

The court has specifically sought details of measures to restrict the entry and operation of over-age, end-of-life and otherwise non-compliant vehicles across the NCR. It also wants figures on enforcement action during the relevant period, including the number of vehicles inspected, challaned, denied entry or subjected to other proceedings.

The authorities have also been asked to explain how Delhi and neighbouring states coordinate to regulate inter-state vehicular movement and ensure adherence to emission standards.

Seeking a concrete timeline rather than a broad statement of intent, the bench directed the authorities to identify additional measures to strengthen enforcement and provide a time-bound roadmap for implementing them.

The four states have been given two weeks to submit their responses, including details of steps already taken, their positions on recommendations made by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) and the amicus curiae, and further measures they intend to pursue independently.

The registry has been directed to list the suo motu proceedings concerning vehicular emissions and Delhi-NCR pollution on November 23.

The court has also scheduled separate hearings on other environmental concerns. Cases concerning solid waste management and the burning of crop residue and firecrackers will be listed on November 25, pollution from construction activities, power plants and other industries on November 26, and conservation and enhancement of green cover on November 30.

At the November 6 hearing, the bench had raised concerns over the recurring pollution crisis and identified vehicular emissions as a major contributor to deteriorating air quality. It had also flagged the problem of "bumper-to-bumper" traffic across Delhi-NCR.

The court drew attention to the volume of vehicles travelling on roads linking the capital with neighbouring urban centres such as Ghaziabad, Greater Noida, Gurugram and Faridabad.

Centre had told the bench that restrictions on the entry of vehicles below BS-VI emission standards were being implemented. It also said PUC certificates were being linked to the location where vehicle inspections were conducted.


(With inputs from PTI)