Delhi Air Pollution Panel Deploys ‘Flying Squads’ Following Supreme Court’s Criticism

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) set up ‘flying squads’ to monitor and curb stubble burning and poor waste disposal in Haryana and Punjab, days after stern remarks by the Supreme Court on worsening air pollution in Delhi, NDTV reported.

The CAQM, which regulates Delhi’s air quality said that these teams would collaborate with local pollution control boards of 10 districts in Haryana and 16 in Punjab to address pollution impacts on Delhi.

The Supreme Court Justices, Abhay S Oka and AG Masih, on Friday took cognisance of Delhi’s worsening air quality, which increasingly became a chronic problem owing to burning stubbles, vehicular emission, and dust as a result of construction. The court criticized CAQM for not attending meetings frequently and of not acting: “Have committees been constituted? Please show us a single step taken. Just see the affidavit. Show us a single direction issued under S 12 and others.”.

The CAQM has outlined plans for squads to track the stubble burning across affected districts between October 1 and November 30 and will coordinate efforts with local officials to reduce the content of pollution. “The squads will report daily to the Commission and CPCB about the measures taken to prevent further incidents of paddy stubble burning in the allocated district,” the CAQM said in a statement.

Delhi’s air quality index dipped to 235 last week for the first time in four months. CAQM put emphasis on vehicular emissions as one of the biggest contributors to this deterioration. In the winters, Delhi’s air quality sometimes dips below 500; then the problems start: from health issues to life disruptions.