Cracker ban was hardly implemented: Supreme Court in notice to Delhi top cop

The Supreme Court has asked the Delhi Police Commissioner to submit an affidavit on steps taken by police to ensure a complete firecrackers ban within a week.

In Short

• Court orders affidavits on pollution control from Delhi government
• Rise in stubble burning noted, affidavits demanded from state governments
• Delhi labeled world's most polluted city day after Diwali

The Supreme Court rapped the Delhi government over the firecracker ban, saying it was "hardly implemented" leading to deteriorating air quality in the national capital.

The top court has directed the AAP government and Delhi Police Commissioner to file affidavits stating steps taken to implement the ban this year as well as proposed steps to ensure compliance with the ban next year within one week.

Delhi earned the tag of the world's most polluted city the morning after Diwali (November 1), Reuters reported. The air quality in several parts of Delhi breached the severe mark as PM2.5 concentration levels soared, creating hazardous conditions for respiratory health.

Citing a report, the Supreme Court said that pollution level in Delhi this year was at an all-time high, much higher than the previous two years. The top court has directed the Delhi Police Commissioner to file an affidavit indicating the steps taken by the police to enforce the complete ban on the use of firecrackers in Delhi.

While citing the same report, the Supreme Court noted that the cases of stubble burning were also on the rise around Diwali. As a result, the top court directed the Punjab and Haryana governments to file affidavits indicating the details of the number of instances of stubble burning during the last ten days of October.

The Delhi government has also been asked to state whether there were instances of fire in farms within the limits of Delhi during the same period.

A bench comprising Justice Abhay Oka and Justice Augustine George Masih said they would also consider other pollution-causing agents, including transport pollution, pollution caused by the entry of heavy trucks and industrial pollution.

The Supreme Court said that the matter would next be heard on November 14.

The air quality on Monday took a turn for the worse as the AQI breached the 400 or 'severe' mark in several parts of the city.

According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), multiple monitoring stations recorded AQI levels above 400 at 7 a.m., including Anand Vihar (433), Wazirpur (414), Jahangirpuri (413), Rohini (409), and Punjabi Bagh (404).

On Sunday, Delhi recorded the season's worst AQI reading of 382, worsening from 316 the previous day.