Supreme Court to hear Delhi smog case today

The Supreme Court will hear on Tuesday an urgent petition seeking measures to control Delhi’s worst smog crisis in 17 years affecting millions of people. A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice T.S. Thakur will hear the case.

In its latest report, the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) sought the court’s intervention in a spiraling public health crisis termed an epidemic by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) on Monday.

The current pollution level is 14 times higher than what is considered safe, even worse than the Great London Smog of 1952, said the report. It blamed vehicular emissions, dust, burning of trash, crackers, and paddy residue, besides near-still weather conditions for the crisis.

On Monday, the sun finally shone through a thick blanket of toxic haze that has choked Delhi for a week. As wind speed picked up, weather experts hoped that pollution levels that have remained “severe” since Diwali might reduce from Tuesday.

While the National Green Tribunal rapped the government for its failure to improve the situation, Delhi’s lieutenant governor Najeeb Jung announced on Monday de-registration of vehicles older than 15 years, ban on crackers other than for religious functions. He said non-destined trucks would not be allowed to enter Delhi.

This was a day after Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal shuts schools for now, banned construction work and closed down a polluting power plant.