Supreme Court Urges CAQM to Consider Reopening Schools Amid Delhi-NCR Air Pollution

The Supreme Court has urged the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to consider reopening schools in Delhi-NCR, emphasizing that many students rely on mid-day meals and struggle with online education. The court instructed CAQM to assess the feasibility of resuming physical classes, while also noting the absence of air purifiers for a significant number of students.

A bench of Justices Abhay S. Oka and Augustine George Masih highlighted the widespread impact of GRAP-IV restrictions, which include limitations on truck entries carrying non-essential goods. The measures, although essential, have adversely affected daily wage earners and laborers.

Despite this, the court maintained that easing GRAP-4 measures would only be considered if air quality consistently improves. Updated AQI figures for Delhi are expected by Wednesday.

The court also directed state governments to utilize labor cess funds for relief measures, including subsistence allowances for workers affected by construction bans. GRAP, implemented in 2017, tailors anti-pollution strategies based on the severity of air quality levels.

The Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), introduced in 2017, is a framework designed to combat air pollution in the National Capital Region (NCR) of India.

GRAP-4 represents the most severe level of measures, implemented when the Air Quality Index (AQI) reaches the 'severe' category (401-500) or worse. Here are the key actions under GRAP-4:

1. Restrictions on Non-Essential Truck Entry: Prohibits trucks carrying non-essential goods from entering Delhi to reduce vehicular emissions.

2. Ban on Construction Activities: Halts all construction and demolition activities to curb dust and particulate matter emissions.

3. Closure of Industries: Shuts down industrial operations that do not use clean fuels or are identified as high-polluting.

4. Schools and Educational Institutions: Classes may shift online or be suspended, particularly to protect children from exposure to toxic air.

5. Restrictions on Vehicular Movement: Implements odd-even schemes or other measures to limit the number of private vehicles on the road.

6. Road Dust Management: Intensified mechanical sweeping and frequent water sprinkling on roads to suppress dust.

7. Power Plant Closures: Temporarily shuts down certain coal-based power plants contributing to pollution.

8. Public Awareness Campaigns: Urges residents to reduce outdoor activities and adopt practices like carpooling.

These measures are temporary and are relaxed only when there is a consistent and substantial improvement in air quality. GRAP-4 is part of a broader strategy aimed at mitigating the adverse health effects of severe pollution levels in Delhi-NCR.

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