Supreme Court urges Centre to reassess Delhi-NCR pollution measures

The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Centre and concerned authorities to revisit their action plan for controlling air pollution in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR), questioning whether existing measures have truly been effective.

Chief Justice Kant emphasized, “Why don’t you revisit your action plan to see whether you have brought any effective changes? If they are less than what is needed, it is important to evaluate whether your measures have been effective, ineffective, or partially effective.” The Court noted that blaming farmers for stubble burning alone is insufficient and called for scientific analysis of all contributing factors.

The apex court will hear the matter at least twice every month, with the next hearing scheduled for December 10.

Meanwhile, Delhi’s air quality remains poor. The Air Quality Index (AQI) rose to 299 on Monday morning, with Nehru Nagar recording the highest at 354 (“very poor”), while Rohini (341), Bawana (339), RK Puram (336), Mundka (330), and Punjabi Bagh (328) also experienced hazardous pollution. On the lower end, NSIT Dwarka registered 195 (“moderate”), while IGI Airport T3 recorded 248.

To curb pollution, Delhi authorities implemented water sprinklers, anti-smog guns, road cleaning, and tankers. However, investigative reports reveal that in areas like Jahangirpuri and Anand Vihar, sprinklers were used selectively around AQI monitoring stations, leaving surrounding streets dusty and garbage-laden. Environmentalists warn that this practice artificially lowers AQI readings, masking the city’s real air quality.

In late October 2025, Delhi authorities in collaboration with IIT Kanpur conducted cloud-seeding trials over Burari, Khera, Mayur Vihar, Karol Bagh, and nearby areas to induce artificial rain and reduce particulate matter. Cessna aircraft dispersed salt-based silver iodide flares, but the trials failed to generate significant rainfall due to low cloud moisture levels (15%-20%), far below the required 50%-60%.

The operations reportedly cost around ₹ 1.2 crore, with government plans allocating ₹ 3.2 crore for multiple trials this winter. Despite the lack of rainfall, short-term monitoring showed PM2.5 concentrations dropped by 15-18% and PM10 by 17–19% in targeted areas, illustrating a temporary, partial improvement in air quality. Experts caution that cloud seeding is highly condition-dependent and cannot replace systemic pollution-control measures.

While Delhi-NCR’s overall air quality has improved slightly this year, with an average AQI of 187 between January and November 2025, the lowest in eight years apart from the COVID-19 lockdown year, reliance on cosmetic interventions like sprinklers and cloud-seeding underscores the need for long-term, enforceable solutions.

The Supreme Court’s directive to re-evaluate all measures comes at a critical time, emphasizing that temporary or surface-level fixes cannot substitute for robust policy, enforcement, and scientific solutions to Delhi’s persistent air pollution crisis.