The Supreme Court of India on Friday, November 6, termed <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/text-shots/delhi-records-aqi-of-391-as-30-monitoring-stations-report-severe-pollution-ahead-of-diwali-23658772" rel="nofollow">vehicular emissions </a>a major contributor to air pollution in Delhi-NCR.&nbsp;
The apex court also cited that immediate, medium, and long-term measures were needed to curb the rising air quality index.
Hearing a suo motu case examining the regulatory framework governing air pollution, a bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana also expressed concern over "bumper-to-bumper" traffic in Delhi-NCR, as per PTI.&nbsp;
The CJI, while expressing concerns over rising air pollution, said, "We keep talking and sometimes make statements and suggestions, but the point is that AQI is already touching 400."
The bench also highlighted the large number of vehicles plying on roads connecting Delhi with neighbouring areas, including Ghaziabad, Greater Noida, Gurugram and Faridabad.
CJI also noted, "Look at the roads in Delhi and the roads connecting Delhi with the NCR. Take a look at any road and the kind of vehicles moving on them. That is the major problem," as cited by PTI.&nbsp;
The bench said the poor people are the real sufferers, as they are on the roads, and moreover, the festival time is the only period when they earn a livelihood.
On stubble burning, the bench stressed the need to educate farmers about using machines instead of resorting to farm fires.
<h2>Plea seeks closure of schools amid rising air pollution</h2>
On the plea seeking closure of schools or running them in hybrid mode for students of all age groups if the air quality index (AQI) rises above a certain mark, the bench said it will go by experts' opinion.
Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for the Centre and other authorities, referred to the regulatory framework covering five major sectors: <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/news/india-news/photo/in-photos-delhis-air-quality-remains-very-poor-punjabi-bagh-aqi-hits-458-113901" rel="nofollow">industrial emissions</a>, vehicular pollution, construction and demolition dust, road dust and stubble burning, as per PTI.
She told the bench that several measures had been introduced, including restrictions on the entry of certain vehicles, geo-tagging of pollution under control (PUC) certificates, and action against visibly polluting vehicles through complaints received on applications and social media.
Bhati told the bench that stubble burning accounted for 14 per cent of Delhi's pollution on Thursday.
On the contrary, the bench said it will pass some orders and take up the plea on November 16 after the court reopens following the Diwali vacation.
<h2>Delhi AQI settles at 391 on Friday&nbsp;</h2>
A<a href="https://www.mid-day.com/news/india-news/article/delhi-ncr-air-quality-deteriorates-to-poor-category-caqm-invokes-grap-stage-1-23656319" rel="nofollow"> thick layer of smog hung over the national capital on Friday </a>as the air quality deteriorated sharply and edged closer to the 'severe' category, with the overall AQI settling at 391.
Of the 59 monitoring stations across the city, 30 recorded 'severe' air quality at 9 am, while the remaining were in the 'very poor' category.
Rohini recorded the worst AQI at 475, followed by IIT Delhi at 472, official data showed.&nbsp;
(With inputs from PTI)

The Supreme Court flags vehicular emissions as a major cause of Delhi-NCR pollution as AQI reaches 391. The court calls for urgent measures

Delhi: Supreme Court flags vehicular emissions, calls for urgent measures amid rising air pollution

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The Supreme Court has flagged vehicular emissions and bumper-to-bumper traffic as major contributors to Delhi-NCR's air pollution, calling for immediate, medium and long-term measures. The remarks came as Delhi's AQI settled at 391 on Friday, with 30 monitoring stations recording severe air quality

Delhi air pollution: Supreme Court flags vehicular emissions, calls for urgent measures

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