Delhi Air Pollution LIVE Updates: The Supreme Court on Friday asked Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) to conduct random checks on three-wheelers running on polluting fuels and to file a report about it. It also said that the Odd-Even scheme may not be a permanent solution, especially when the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) stated that cars constitute three percent of pollution levels.

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As Delhi continues to reel under thick blanket of smog for the fifth consecutive day on Friday after a brief relief last week with with air quality in several areas dipping to 'severe-plus' category, no decision was taken until Thursday on extending the Odd-Even road rationing scheme, which enters its final day on Friday.

This year, air quality in many parts of north India reached toxic levels even in the days leading up to Diwali. On this festival of lights, use of firecrackers other than smoke from the practice of stubble burning in the region left residents of Delhi-NCR, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab among others in the North gasping for clean air. Their eyes were reportedly burning from toxic air pollution.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the overall air quality of the National Capital was measured at 489 at 7.00 am on Friday. The overall Delhi-NCR AQI has once again slipped to 'severe' category.

The noxious smog resulting from raging farm fires, stubble burning and unfavourable weather pushed pollution in Delhi-NCR towards the "emergency" zone.

The overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of Chandni Chowk was measured at 482. Lodhi Road had a concentration of Particulate Matter (PM) 2.5 pollutants and its AQI was 475, according to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR).

As per official data, 475 challans were issued by the teams of traffic police (276), transport (139) and revenue (60) departments from 8 am to 8 pm, when the restrictions were in force, on Thursday.

According to government officials, as of Thursday, a total of 4,309 challans were issued against violators of the Odd-Even road rationing scheme.

Till 7 am on Thursday, the air quality in several areas of the Delhi and NCR, including Pusa Road (777), Dwarka Sector 8 (930), Pragati Vihar (733), Anand Vihar (535), Noida Sector 125 (665), Noida Sector 62 (538), US Embassy in Chanakyapuri (660), Jahagirpuri (610), Narela (808), Bawana (865), Okhla (722), Satyawati College in Ashok Vihar (757), Sonia Vihar (565), Alipur (644), Sri Aurobindo Marg (733), Shaheed Sukhdev College of Business in Rohini (765) and Patparganj (571) surpassed the 'Severe-Plus' category.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), major pollutant PM 2.5 was recorded at 489.

The bench also directed them to submit pollution data from 1 October to 31 December, 2018.

The Supreme Court on Thursday issued notice to the Delhi government on a plea challenging the scheme in the National Capital. A bench of Justices Arun Mishra and Deepak Gupta also directed the government and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to place before it the data of pollution in Delhi from October till 14 November, 2019.

The Supreme Court is expected to review the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP government's anti-pollution measure of Odd-Even road rationing scheme on Thursday at 12 pm.

Research is now showing that pollution can weaken a child's immune system and increase the risk of cancer, epilepsy, diabetes and even adult-onset diseases like multiple sclerosis. In adults, poor air quality causes one's lung capacity to decrease, more headaches, sore throats, coughs, fatigue, even lung cancer.

Half of Delhi's school-going population (some 2.2 million children) suffers from some or the other form of irreversible lung damage from poor air quality in the city.

It alleged that the rules of the road rationing scheme violates citizens' rights and stops them from practicing any profession, carry out any occupation, trade or business and to move freely throughout the country.

The petition challenging AAP government implemented Odd-Even scheme was filed by a Noida-based advocate, who alleged that the Delhi government's 1 November notification on the scheme violated fundamental rights.

"It shows that odd-even is nothing, but a political and vote bank gimmick as it has been done capriciously in an unreasonable manner," it said.

Questioning the rationale behind the scheme, the plea claimed that three sources of data on Delhi's air-quality, including those by the CPCB and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), have confirmed that in the past the odd-even rule did not lower pollution levels in the national capital.

"The odd-even vehicle scheme violates the fundamental rights of residents of Delhi and adjoining states who daily commute in/out of Delhi in their four wheeled vehicles to do their jobs/business to earn their livelihood and is ultra vires Article 19(1)(g) of the Constitution of India," the plea said.

The plea filed by the Noida-based lawyer had alleged that the road rationing scheme was "arbitrary, contrary to statutory provisions and is nothing but a political and vote bank gimmick".

The anti-pollution measure came into effect on 4 November this year and will continue till 15 November. Under the scheme, four-wheelers with registration numbers ending with odd digits ply on odd dates and those ending with even digits ply on even dates.

Authorities restricted some 1.2 million private vehicles a day from taking to the roads in Delhi by enforcing the Odd-Even scheme, after the levels of particulate matter suspended in the air paved the way to a full-blown public health emergency in the region.

"This can’t go on. Delhi government and Centre can't just pass the buck to each other. People aren't safe even inside their houses and rooms," the court said. "Why are crops still being burnt? This happens every year and the government doesn't do anything. We will call all those responsible here and settle it now," the court said, adding that it would now monitor stubble burning.

The Supreme Court pulled up the Centre and state governments over the toxic haze enveloping Delhi, leaving it choking year after year – something that could not be allowed in a civilised country, where "the right to life was (fore) most important," one of the judges said.

"We don't want to implement the Odd-Even scheme forcefully thereby, inconveniencing citizens. According to predictions, the air quality in Delhi is expected to improve from Saturday. If that happens, we won't extend the deadline. But the final decision will be taken on Monday, when the government will take a call on whether the extend the Odd-Even rule in the city, depending on the improvement or deterioration of the air quality," Kejriwal said.

Claiming that the high levels of pollution in the National Capital is because of stubble burning in Haryana and Punjab, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday said that the Delhi government will take a call on extending the deadline of Odd-Even scheme on Monday after assessing the improvement in the air quality.

They were summoned after the air quality in the National Capital and its adjoining areas plunged to 'Severe' category.

According to the sources, the representatives of Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Delhi Development Authority (DDA), New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), Central Public Works Department (CPWD), National Buildings Construction Corporation (NBCC) officials, Secretary of Ministry of Environment and the Commissioner of all the Municipal Corporations of Delhi are present in the meeting.

A meeting of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Ministry of Urban Development is underway to discuss the deteriorating air quality in the national capital, sources said on Friday.

The key pollution meet stood cancelled after top officers, including secretary and joint secretary did not attend the parliamentary committee meeting.

As Delhi continues to gasp for air, Municipal Commissioners of all three corporations failed to show up in the meeting of Parliamentary Standing Committee to discuss the deteriorating air quality in the National Capital, CNN-News18 reported.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee is likely to take serious note against the top bureaucrats.

The three commissioners of Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) who did not attend the Parliamentary panel of Urban Development meeting discuss the hazardous levels of pollution in the National Capital are Vice-Chairman of Delhi Development Authority (DDA), Secretary/Joint Secretary of Environment

The chief minister said that the state government will get the septic tanks cleaned for free.

"The contractors or private companies that engage these people are not registered. These companies dump the sludge in drains, contaminating the Yamuna river," Kejriwal said.

"Many times people die while cleaning these septic tanks and this is a big step in making Delhi clean and putting an end to sewer deaths," he said.

There are around 1,700 unauthorised colonies in Delhi and around 430 have sewer lines. In rest of the colonies, people have septic tanks, which they get cleaned by hiring private parties.

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday announced a scheme in which people in unauthorised colonies can get their septic tanks cleaned for free.

The apex court will also review the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP government's implementation of Odd-Even road rationing scheme on Friday.

The Supreme Court on Friday asked the Centre to prepare a road map for installation of air purifying towers across Delhi to handle the air pollution crisis the National Capital is subjected to.

Putting the onus on neighbouring states for the noxious smog that pushed Delhi towards an 'emergency zone', the state government said, "The real culprit of Delhi pollution is stubble burning. Last year no study was done on impact of Odd-Even scheme."

However, the results would be better if the anti-pollution measure could be implemented without allowing any exemptions.

On being asked by the Supreme Court if there has been any improvement in Delhi's air quality after installation of Odd-Even scheme, the Delhi government responded saying that there has been a reduction in pollution levels by 5-15 percent.

"Delhi is suffering badly, the Air Quality Index (AQI) is almost 600 even today. How do people breathe?" Supreme Court asks state government.

As the Air Quality Index in Delhi plunged to almost 600 on Friday, the Supreme Court reprimanded the AAP-led government for the rising pollution levels in the city, which remained engulfed in thick smog. The apex court also observed that Arvind Kejriwal implemented Odd-Even scheme might not the solution to check air pollution.

Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the state government, told the apex court, "if certain exemptions are removed that are given under the Odd-Even scheme, like two wheelers, it will help."

As the Supreme Court was reviewing the anti-pollution measure Odd-Even scheme, which restricted the movement of 1.2 million private vehicles a day from taking to the roads, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) on Friday told the apex court that cars contribute only three percent to pollution levels. All vehicles combined contribute to 28 percent of air pollution.

The Supreme Court again sought the presence of chief secretaries of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi on 29 November after it observed that these states failed to take effective steps to deal with air pollution levels in Delhi-NCR.

The Supreme Court stated that the Odd-Even scheme may not be a permanent solution, especially when the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) stated that cars constitute three percent of pollution levels. Garbage dumping, construction wastes and road dusts are also major contributors to the pollution levels.

"The Joint Secretary could not attend as she was to appear for an important matter in Supreme Court," the statement added .

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, responding to reports that ministry officials were missing from a meeting of the Parliament Standing Committee on Urban Development in view of rising pollution levels in Delhi, said that the ministry was represented by Deputy Secretary and also from Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

Delhi govt tells SC that pollution level gets reduced by 5-15 per cent due to #OddEven scheme and that the result will be better if no exemption is given under the scheme. The real culprit of Delhi pollution is stubble burning. Last year no study was done on impact of #OddEven . https://t.co/XQefREJDzA

Putting the onus on neighbouring states for the noxious smog that pushed Delhi towards an 'emergency zone', the state government said, "The real culprit of Delhi pollution is stubble burning. Last year no study was done on impact of Odd-Even scheme."

However, the results would be better if the anti-pollution measure could be implemented without allowing any exemptions.

On being asked by the Supreme Court if there has been any improvement in Delhi's air quality after installation of Odd-Even scheme, the Delhi government responded saying that there has been a reduction in pollution levels by 5-15 percent.

Supreme Court says, Odd-Even may not be the solution to control air pollution.

"Delhi is suffering badly, the Air Quality Index (AQI) is almost 600 even today. How do people breathe?" Supreme Court asks state government.

As the Air Quality Index in Delhi plunged to almost 600 on Friday, the Supreme Court reprimanded the AAP-led government for the rising pollution levels in the city, which remained engulfed in thick smog. The apex court also observed that Arvind Kejriwal implemented Odd-Even scheme might not the solution to check air pollution.

Central Pollution Control Board to Supreme Court: Cars are contributing 3 per cent to pollution levels and all the vehicles combined contributing 28 per cent to it. https://t.co/kqsDydZBAW

Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the state government, told the apex court, "if certain exemptions are removed that are given under the Odd-Even scheme, like two wheelers, it will help."

As the Supreme Court was reviewing the anti-pollution measure Odd-Even scheme, which restricted the movement of 1.2 million private vehicles a day from taking to the roads, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) on Friday told the apex court that cars contribute only three percent to pollution levels. All vehicles combined contribute to 28 percent of air pollution.

The Supreme Court again sought the presence of chief secretaries of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi on 29 November after it observed that these states failed to take effective steps to deal with air pollution levels in Delhi-NCR.

The Supreme Court stated that the Odd-Even scheme may not be a permanent solution, especially when the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) stated that cars constitute three percent of pollution levels. Garbage dumping, construction wastes and road dusts are also major contributors to the pollution levels.

The Supreme Court on Friday asked Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) to conduct random checks on three-wheelers running on polluting fuels and to file a report about it. The apex court also asked the Delhi Development Authority, Public Works Department and other civic bodies to co-operate with the monitoring committee to ensure implementation of court orders, reports ANI

The Centre also told the bench that it is examining the feasibility of putting up smog towers to reduce pollution in Delhi.

The apex court expressed concern that despite reduction in stubble burning, pollution levels in Delhi have become worse. The Delhi government told the top court that its odd-even scheme has helped in reducing pollution and the "real culprit" behind the region's pollution is stubble burning.

Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, on reports that ministry officials were missing from a meeting of Parliament Standing Committee on Urban Development today: Detailed notes were submitted to the Ministry of Urban Development prior as was asked.

"The Joint Secretary could not attend as she was to appear for an important matter in Supreme Court," the statement added .

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, responding to reports that ministry officials were missing from a meeting of the Parliament Standing Committee on Urban Development in view of rising pollution levels in Delhi, said that the ministry was represented by Deputy Secretary and also from Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

The meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee had to be cancelled at the last minute as most of the officials summoned did not turn up, the report added.

A total of 21 Lok Sabha members and eight Rajya Sabha members were asked to attend the meet, out of which only four — chairman Jagdambika Pal, Hasnain Masoodi, CR Patil and Sanjay Singh — turned up, the report said.

Firstpost could not independently verify the claim, however, Aam Aadmi Party MLA Saurabh Bharadwaj tweeted an image of Gautam at a local eatery in Indore.

The Aam Aadmi Party slammed Delhi MP Gautam Gambhir for skipping a Parliamentary Standing Committee meeting on the air pollution crisis in the national capital. According to News18, unconfirmed reports stated that "Gambir, who was among the 21 Lok Sabha members summoned to attend the meeting, skipped the meeting as he is currently on a leisure trip to Indore".

My work will speak for itself! P.S. Agar mujhe gaali dene se Dilli ka pollution kam hoga to AAP jee bhar ke gaali dijiye. cc: Trolls pic.twitter.com/bRyYoFB02c

The Delhi MP also criticised AAP, saying that the ruling party could criticise him as much as it wants if it helps reduce the pollution in Delhi.

Facing criticism over skipping a Parliamentary Standing Committee meeting on the air pollution crisis in the National Capital, Delhi MP Gautam Gambhir released a statement on Twitter, stressing that his work speaks for itself.

Delhi Air Pollution LATEST Updates: According to News18, unconfirmed reports stated that Delhi MP Gautam Gambir, who was among the 21 Lok Sabha members summoned to attend a Parliamentary Standing Committee meeting on the air pollution crisis in the national capital, skipped the meeting as he is currently on a leisure trip to Indore.

Firstpost could not independently verify the claim, however, Aam Aadmi Party MLA Saurabh Bharadwaj tweeted an image of Gautam at a local eatery in Indore.

The Supreme Court on Friday asked Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) to conduct random checks on three-wheelers running on polluting fuels and to file a report about it. It also said that the Odd-Even scheme may not be a permanent solution, especially when the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) stated that cars constitute three percent of pollution levels.

The apex court also asked the Delhi Development Authority, Public Works Department and other civic bodies to co-operate with the monitoring committee to ensure implementation of court orders, reports ANI

As the Supreme Court was reviewing the anti-pollution measure Odd-Even scheme, which restricted the movement of 1.2 million private vehicles a day from taking to the roads, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) on Friday told the apex court that cars contribute only three percent to pollution levels. All vehicles combined contribute to 28 percent of air pollution.

Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the state government, told the apex court, "if certain exemptions are removed that are given under the Odd-Even scheme, like two wheelers, it will help."

As the Air Quality Index in Delhi plunged to almost 600 on Friday, the Supreme Court reprimanded the AAP-led government for the rising pollution levels in the city, which remained engulfed in thick smog. The apex court also observed that Arvind Kejriwal implemented Odd-Even scheme might not the solution to check air pollution.

"Delhi is suffering badly, the Air Quality Index (AQI) is almost 600 even today. How do people breathe?" Supreme Court asks state government.

On being asked by the Supreme Court if there has been any improvement in Delhi's air quality after installation of Odd-Even scheme, the Delhi government responded saying that there has been a reduction in pollution levels by 5-15 percent.

However, the results would be better if the anti-pollution measure could be implemented without allowing any exemptions.

As Delhi continues to gasp for air, Municipal Commissioners of all three corporations failed to show up in the meeting of Parliamentary Standing Committee to discuss the deteriorating air quality in the National Capital, CNN-News18 reported.

The key pollution meet stood cancelled after top officers, including secretary and joint secretary did not attend the parliamentary committee meeting.

Claiming that the high levels of pollution in the National Capital is because of stubble burning in Haryana and Punjab, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday said that the Delhi government will take a call on extending the deadline of Odd-Even scheme on Monday after assessing the improvement in the air quality.

"We don't want to implement the Odd-Even scheme forcefully thereby, inconveniencing citizens. According to predictions, the air quality in Delhi is expected to improve from Saturday. If that happens, we won't extend the deadline. But the final decision will be taken on Monday, when the government will take a call on whether the extend the Odd-Even rule in the city, depending on the improvement or deterioration of the air quality," Kejriwal said.

The plea filed by the Noida-based lawyer had alleged that the road rationing scheme was "arbitrary, contrary to statutory provisions and is nothing but a political and vote bank gimmick".

"The odd-even vehicle scheme violates the fundamental rights of residents of Delhi and adjoining states who daily commute in/out of Delhi in their four wheeled vehicles to do their jobs/business to earn their livelihood and is ultra vires Article 19(1)(g) of the Constitution of India," the plea said.

Questioning the rationale behind the scheme, the plea claimed that three sources of data on Delhi's air-quality, including those by the CPCB and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), have confirmed that in the past the odd-even rule did not lower pollution levels in the national capital.

"It shows that odd-even is nothing, but a political and vote bank gimmick as it has been done capriciously in an unreasonable manner," it said.

The petition challenging AAP government implemented Odd-Even scheme was filed by a Noida-based advocate, who alleged that the Delhi government's 1 November notification on the scheme violated fundamental rights.

It alleged that the rules of the road rationing scheme violates citizens' rights and stops them from practicing any profession, carry out any occupation, trade or business and to move freely throughout the country.

According to government officials, as of Thursday, a total of 4,309 challans were issued against violators of the Odd-Even road rationing scheme.

As per official data, 475 challans were issued by the teams of traffic police (276), transport (139) and revenue (60) departments from 8 am to 8 pm, when the restrictions were in force, on Thursday.

As Delhi continues to reel under thick blanket of smog for the fifth consecutive day on Friday after a brief relief last week with with air quality in several areas dipping to 'severe-plus' category, no decision was taken until Thursday on extending the Odd-Even road rationing scheme, which enters its final day on Friday.

The Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government is still uncertain regarding the extension of the Odd-Even road rationing system in Delhi, even as a public health emergency is being declared in the capital.

"A final decision about extending the odd-even rule could be taken on Friday, depending on the situation of air pollution and outcome of a hearing pertaining to the scheme in the Supreme Court," a Delhi government functionary said.

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal had earlier said the odd-even restrictions could be extended if required.

Till Thursday, a total of 4,309 challans were issued against violators of the scheme, officials said.

According to official data, 475 challans were issued by the teams of traffic police(276.), transport (139) and revenue (60) departments from 8 am to 8 pm, when the restrictions were in force, on Thursday.

The violators of odd-even rules are slapped with a fine of Rs 4,000.

A total of 532 violators of odd-even rules were challaned on the first day of the scheme on 4 November. The highest number of challans (709) was issued on 6 November.

Under the rule, non-transport vehicles having odd and even last digits of registration number ply on odd and even dates, respectively.

The Delhi government has claimed a high percentage of compliance of the scheme by motorists in the city. Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia has said people were "religiously" following the odd-even rule.

The Delhi government blaming crop stubble burning in neighbouring Punjab and Haryana as the reason behind poor air quality in the National Capital has claimed that the odd-even scheme is one of the steps responsible for respite from the crisis.