SC Flags Non-Functional Air Quality Monitors in Delhi; Seeks Report from CAQM, CPCB

As Delhi battles toxic air and worsening pollution levels, the Supreme Court on Monday expressed concern over reports that several air quality monitoring stations in the city are non-functional, questioning how the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) could be effectively implemented without accurate data.

During the hearing, amicus curiae Aparajita Singh urged the Court to direct the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to take “preemptive steps before the situation turns severe.”

“There are reports that many monitoring stations in Delhi are not working. If they’re not functional, we won’t know when to implement GRAP,” Singh told the bench, noting that only 9 of 37 stations were operational during Diwali.

In response, Chief Justice of India BR Gavai directed the CAQM and CPCB to submit a status report on the current functioning of monitoring stations and the preventive measures being taken to curb air pollution.

Delhi’s Air Quality Worsens

The national capital continued to record ‘very poor’ air quality, with an overall AQI of 316 on Monday morning.
Out of 40+ monitoring locations, 28 stations reported AQI levels above 300, indicating sustained exposure to hazardous pollutants.

The top court’s intervention comes as Delhi and its neighboring regions remain enveloped in thick smog, driven by a mix of stubble burning, vehicular emissions, and stagnant weather conditions.