NEW DELHI: Delhi NCR on Monday continued to grapple with alarmingly high pollution levels, worsened by stubble burning in the neighbouring states. The AQI level in the city remained dangerously high. Notable readings included 919 in Mundka, 762 in ITI Jahangirpuri, and 624 in Anand Vihar, placing these areas in the ‘severe-plus’ category.
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) imposed the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) Stage 4 in Delhi NCR from Monday after the city’s daily average AQI rose sharply to 441 by 4 PM on Sunday, and further escalated to 457 by 7 PM, prompting an emergency meeting of the GRAP Sub-Committee.
The Stage-IV response encompasses an 8-point action plan designed to mitigate the pollution crisis. Key measures include banning the entry of trucks into Delhi, except for those carrying essential commodities or providing essential services.

Here are the top developments:

Supreme Court orders GRAP 4 curbs to be in force across NCR even if AQI drops below 400

A bench comprising Justices Abhay S. Oka and Augustine George Masih, in its order, said, “We direct all governments of the NCR area to strictly implement Stage 4 of GRAP. All states will immediately constitute teams for monitoring the implementation of actions required under Stage 4.”
“The NCR state governments and the central government will have to immediately take a call on actions provided in clauses 6, 7, and 8 of Stage 4 and place the decision taken on record before the next date,” the top court added.
The top court also directed the Delhi government as well as other NCR governments to create a grievance redressal mechanism to enable citizens to lodge complaints about violations of actions under Stage 4.
“We direct the Delhi government and other governments to create grievance redressal mechanisms to enable citizens to lodge complaints of violations under Stage 4. We direct the commission to look into the complaints immediately and take action. We make it clear that, until further orders are passed by this court, implementation of Stage 4 will continue even if AQI levels drop below 450,” the apex court said.
“It is the constitutional obligation of the state and centre that citizens live in a pollution-free environment. The Supreme Court says that apart from all clauses of GRAP Stage 3 and 4, all necessary steps should be taken by the government to ensure that the situation normalizes,” it added.

LG directs implementation of staggered work timings for government offices

Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena directed the implementation of staggered office timings as part of the measures under GRAP-4.
According to a notification issued from the LG office, offices under MCD will operate from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, while offices under GNCTD will function from 10:00 am to 6:30 pm.
The new office timings will be effective in all offices under the Government of NCT of Delhi and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi until 28th February 2025.

14 Delhi-bound flights diverted due to poor visibility

14 Delhi-bound flights have been diverted to Jaipur and Dehradun so far, as bad weather conditions resulted in poor visibility, impacting aircraft operations in the national capital.
The Delhi Airport also issued an advisory for passengers and informed that flight operations may get affected but the ‘Low Visibility Procedures’ are still in progress at the airport.
“Low Visibility Procedures are still in progress at Delhi Airport and flight operations may get affected at the Delhi Airport. Passengers are requested to contact the airline concerned for updated flight information. Any inconvenience caused is deeply regretted,” the advisory reads.
Also read: ‘Constitutional obligation of governments to provide citizens pollution free environment’: SC orders GRAP 4 curbs to be in force across NCR even if AQI drops below 400
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Stubble burning incidents increased in UP under BJP government in two years’, says Delhi minister

Delhi environment minister Gopal Rai directed sharp criticism towards the BJP-led central government for its lack of action in addressing the ongoing air pollution crisis in the national capital.
“We all know that stubble burning is a major factor in the rising levels of pollution today. Our govt in Punjab was formed in 2022. 47,000 incidents of stubble burning in Punjab were reported from between Oct 15 and 17 in 2022. We worked for two years and brought down the number from 47,000 to 7,500. On the other hand is the BJP govt in UP, where the number of incidents of stubble burning increased from 1,500 to 2,500 in two years,” Rai said.
Rai also accused the Centre of not taking immediate steps to address the pollution in North India.
“During this critical time, the BJP is quiet and the central government seems to be in deep slumber, despite the urgent need for action,” Rai said.