SC Cracks Down on NCR Vehicular Pollution, Seeks Responses

Supreme Court Widens Hearing on Delhi-NCR Vehicular Pollution
The Supreme Court of India has widened its ambit of inquiry into the rising vehicular pollution in the National Capital Region (NCR). On Monday, a bench of Justices Abhay S. Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan asked responses from the MCD and DDA on measures to tackle air pollution caused by vehicles.

Court Examines Construction Norms
The bench said it would revisit the guidelines issued for the construction permits, mainly regarding parking facilities. It clarified that no house must be allowed without proper parking space. In addition, it was questioned whether there was a restriction on family buying more than one vehicle because private vehicles cause the maximum pollution in Delhi-NCR.

Focus on Public Transport and Electric Vehicles
The Supreme Court has also stressed the need for a sound public transport system, which would decrease vehicular emissions. It asked the government to detail plans for how electric vehicles can be made affordable. It has been seen that the adoption of EVs is one major measure for reducing pollution in NCR.

Notice to key authorities
The central government, Delhi government, Commission for Air Quality Management, and other authorities concerned have received notices asking them to respond to the matter. The next date has been fixed on February 3, 2025.

It also told the court that CAQM has already instructed the Delhi government and its neighboring states to enforce the emission standards and pollution control norms. The court further stated that vehicular pollution is identified as one of the major contributors to the bad air quality in the region.

Pollution Control Measures and Vehicle Stickers
The court ordered reconsideration of several dates discussed beforehand to introduce hologram-based, colour-coded stickers of vehicles in view of their classifying into petroleum and CNG with a light blue sticker while diesel with an orange sticker, which might carry the vehicle's registration date for easy implementation of the norms.

First introduced in 2018, in the NCR, even though the stickers, first proposed under a Ministry of Road Transport and Highways initiative, may now be applied throughout India to all states and union territories as a measure for complete pollution mitigation.
Historical Background
It has been emerging as a PIL filed by the environmentalist M.C. Mehta in 1985 for curbing pollution and has, ever since been generating various orders related to air quality, vehicular emissions, and industrial pollution, one after the other, over the years in NCR.

Challenge of Pollution for NCR
The National Capital Region includes Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan, which sometimes sees hazardous levels of air quality. Vehicular emissions, industrial pollution, construction dust, and season-specific factors such as stubble burning are some of the major contributors. The latest instructions of the Supreme Court are in the direction of a long-term focus on sustainable urban development and transportation.