The Supreme Court today directed the Centre, the Delhi government and other stakeholders to submit within four weeks their action plan on the central pollution watchdog’s recommendations for long-term measures to improve the worsening Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi-NCR. A three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi took note of a status report filed by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM).

The CAQM has recommended 15 long-term measures. CAQM has also identified the concerned agencies that are the competent ones to give effect to these long-term measures. The top court made it clear that it will not entertain any objections to the recommendations. During the December 17 hearing, the court described the pollution crisis as an “annual feature” and called for pragmatic and practical solutions to tackle the menace.