India’s Top Court Acts Amid New Delhi’s Pollution Crisis

NEW DELHI: India’s top court took urgent action on Friday in response to the severe air pollution crisis gripping New Delhi, which has caused a significant rise in hospital admissions for respiratory illnesses. Over the past week, the Indian capital has been blanketed in toxic smog, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching dangerously high levels. On Friday, the AQI stood at 373, categorized as “very poor,” according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

Conditions had slightly improved since Monday, when the AQI had reached a “severe plus” level of 484, prompting the Delhi administration to declare a medical emergency. However, the ongoing pollution crisis has triggered intervention from India’s Supreme Court, which criticized the city’s response and called for stricter measures to tackle the crisis. The court ordered local and central authorities to implement additional steps to contain the pollution, including the immediate establishment of check posts at all 113 entry points to New Delhi to prevent trucks and commercial vehicles from entering the city.

The Supreme Court emphasized that it was a constitutional obligation of both the central and state governments to ensure that citizens have access to a pollution-free environment. Earlier this week, the court had already directed authorities to suspend all construction activities in New Delhi and the surrounding National Capital Region (NCR) to mitigate further emissions.

As the smog persists, Delhi authorities have closed schools, shifting to online classes, and implemented work-from-home policies for half of government employees. However, the air quality remains a critical issue, with significant health impacts on residents.

Dr. Nikhil Modi, a pulmonologist at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital in New Delhi, reported a sharp increase in patients with respiratory issues, noting that the number of such cases had risen two to three times the normal rate. “For individuals with pre-existing lung conditions, the situation can be particularly severe. Those who develop secondary infections, such as pneumonia, require emergency treatment,” Dr. Modi explained.

The toxic smog is a recurring issue every winter, as colder temperatures trap pollutants from millions of vehicles, construction sites, industrial emissions, and open burning of waste. The problem is exacerbated by crop residue burning in neighboring regions, where farmers set fire to stubble to clear fields for wheat planting.

As the pollution crisis continues, the court’s intervention underscores the urgent need for effective measures to protect public health and the environment in the capital.