Supreme Court Seeks Details on Delhi‘s Air Quality Monitoring
New Delhi – The Supreme Court today directed the Delhi goverment to file an affidavit detailing the equipment used to measure the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) and to assess the accuracy of those measurements. A bench comprised of Chief Justice B.R. Gavai, and Justices K. Vinod Chandran and N.V. Anjaria, requested the details be submitted within two days. the court specifically asked the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) to explain the “nature of the equipment being used and their efficiency in gauging AQI.”
The directive came during a hearing where concerns were raised regarding the reliability of AQI data.Amicus curiae Aparajita Singh brought to the court’s attention media reports alleging that water was being sprayed near AQI monitoring stations, potentially manipulating the reported pollution levels – referencing a report detailing unusual fluctuations in PM10 levels. News reports documenting these claims were also submitted.
Responding on behalf of the central government, Additional solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati acknowledged that water sprinkling was occurring across Delhi, but suggested that videos circulating on the matter were being disseminated by political parties.
Singh also highlighted concerns about underreporting of farm fire incidents in official data. She emphasized the need for providing farmers with sufficient machinery to manage crop residue without resorting to burning, identifying equipment-based disposal as a crucial long-term solution. She further explained that a limited timeframe exists for farmers between harvesting paddy and preparing fields for wheat sowing, a situation compounded by Punjab’s water conservation laws which delay paddy planting.