Delhi’s Rising Pollution: Supreme Court Urges Action from Punjab and Haryana
As the monsoon season ends, pollution levels in New Delhi are increasing. The city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) averaged 166, indicating poor air quality. Areas like Anand Vihar, Mundka, Loni, and the Delhi Institute of Tool Engineering reported AQIs of 231, 273, 201, and 243, respectively, which are considered unhealthy. The PM2.5 concentration is 5.5 times above the World Health Organization’s recommended limit.
Nearby areas such as Ghaziabad, Meerut, and Noida also experienced high pollution levels with AQIs of 171, 184, and 184, respectively. Shiromani Akali Dal leader Daljit Singh Cheema urged the Supreme Court to take action against Punjab and Haryana after the court criticized these states for their role in the pollution issue. Cheema emphasized the need for providing farmers with adequate facilities instead of blaming them.
The Supreme Court expressed dissatisfaction with the Commission for Air Quality Management’s (CAQM) efforts, noting a lack of enforcement and meetings. The court directed Punjab and Haryana to comply with CAQM’s directions and submit an affidavit within a week, with a hearing scheduled for October 16.
Doubts Revealed
Supreme Court -: The Supreme Court is the highest court in India. It makes important decisions about laws and justice in the country.
Punjab and Haryana -: Punjab and Haryana are two states in northern India. They are known for agriculture and are close to Delhi.
AQI -: AQI stands for Air Quality Index. It is a number that shows how clean or polluted the air is. A higher number means more pollution.
Anand Vihar and Mundka -: Anand Vihar and Mundka are areas in New Delhi. They are facing high levels of air pollution.
Ghaziabad and Noida -: Ghaziabad and Noida are cities near Delhi. They also have high pollution levels like Delhi.
Shiromani Akali Dal -: Shiromani Akali Dal is a political party in India. Daljit Singh Cheema is a leader from this party.
Commission for Air Quality Management -: This is a group that is supposed to help control air pollution in India. The Supreme Court is unhappy with their work.