SC suggests work from home as option to curb pollution, orders Centre to call urgent meet

The Supreme Court took a strong note of lack of any credible steps taken by the Centre and Delhi government to tackle worsening air pollution in the national capital.

The top court slammed the Delhi government for passing the buck to municipal corporations and has given time till tomorrow to both Centre and state governments to come up with a response.

The apex court asked both the governments to respond by tomorrow evening over which industries can be stopped, which vehicles can be prevented from plying and which power plants can be stopped, & how you can provide alternative power by then.


The Supreme Court bench, headed by Chief Justice N V Ramana, directed the concerned secretaries of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab and Delhi to attend the meeting to make their submissions.

The Supreme Court tells chief secretaries of Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh to give their submissions to the executive committee and come up with an action plan.

The court also suggested the option of working from home for those in Delhi-NCR and persuading farmers not to burn stubble.

It also observed that the major cause of air pollution in Delhi are dust, heavy vehicular traffic and industries. The Centre also submitted that only 10% of the pollution is because of stubble burning.

The Delhi government today said that it is ready for lockdown provided other states also come on board to impose the curbs in the NCR areas.

Delhi's air quality continued to be 'very poor' for the second consecutive day today.

The Supreme Court will hear the matter next on November 17.