Delhi smog : Supreme Court agrees to hear PIL today

The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to hear a fresh plea seeking immediate measures to curb rising pollution in Delhi-NCR.

Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra has agreed to give an urgent hearing to a PIL seeking steps to curb rising pollution in Delhi-NCR, with the CJI saying the problem cannot be ignored.

In his plea to the bench comprising Chief Justice Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud, lawyer Kapoor said that rise in dust particles on roads and stubble burning in Delhi's neighbouring states like Haryana and Punjab have led to an alarming rise in pollution levels in the NCR and its adjoining areas. The pleas also sought effective implementation of the Odd-Even car rationing scheme.

The bench further decided to hear the matter later today. The plea seeks direction to Centre and states on stubble burning, road dust and effective implementation of odd-even car rationing scheme. Pollution levels continued to remain high across the Indo-Gangetic plain, especially Delhi-NCR, although the smog showed signs of receding in most regions on Sunday.

An anti-cyclonic wind circulation that was depressing wind speeds has moved further south, allowing surface wind speeds to pick up over the weekend. The India Meteorology Department has predicted a significant improvement in air quality next week, besides rainfall due to a western disturbance in northwest India.