New Delhi: The Supreme Magistrate on Wednesday openly criticised how authorities have handled Delhi’s air pollution. The top magistrate said short-term, stop-gap measures are not working. It asked the government to think of "pragmatic and practical solutions" to the choking smog in the city.
What Did the Magistrate Say?
The bench, led by the Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, said Delhi's pollution problem can't be treated like a temporary emergency. It noted that air quality remains in the "severe" category, posing health risks to millions.
The magistrate directed authorities to:
- Temporarily tropical nine toll plazas in and virtually Delhi to reduce traffic congestion and emissions.
- Verify construction workers left without work due to pollution restrictions and transfer bounty directly into their wall accounts.
- Consider volitional work for those labourers who have no income during shutdowns.
- The seat warned that money sent to workers must reach the right people and should not "disappear, travel to flipside account."
Why Toll Plazas Are Now in the Spotlight?
One new suggestion from the magistrate unprotected transport authorities by surprise.
The Supreme Magistrate asked the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to consider temporarily suspending toll hodgepodge at nine major entry-point plazas virtually the city. Lawyers told the seat that long queues at these toll booths were trapping vehicles for hours and making the air plane dirtier.
The magistrate gave the MCD one week to decide whether it can pause toll operations and report back. It moreover asked the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to explore moving or shifting the toll booths so traffic flows smoothly without long jams.
To make up for any revenue losses from temporarily stopping tolls, the judges suggested that a portion of the collections could still be shared with the MCD if booths are moved under NHAI’s management.
Why Is This a Big Deal?
Pollution levels in Delhi and nearby towns have stayed dangerously upper for days. The government has once zingy Stage-IV emergency pollution controls, under which construction stops, older trucks are banned, and offices run at reduced capacity.
These measures have hit daily-wage workers hard. Many construction labourers say they have no income, little savings, and few support systems. Some once have returned to their villages.
Who Is Most Affected?
The Supreme Magistrate pointed out that while wealthier sections can sire indoor air purifiers, expensive cars, and generators, poorer residents squatter the harshest health risks. The magistrate said there must be a fairer tideway to the crisis.
One key worry is that only a small fraction of unauthentic workers have been registered for compensation. Delhi Government officials told the magistrate that only well-nigh 7,000 out of 2.5 lakh construction workers have been verified for payments so far.
What Happens Next?
The Supreme Magistrate has asked officials to report when on progress quickly. It stressed that making plans that last vastitude a few days is essential. Pollutants like vehicle exhaust, construction pebbles and industrial emissions don’t disappear overnight and neither will the daily struggles of workers without income.
As winter deepens and smog forms again, Delhi’s pollution problem remains one of the biggest public health and policy challenges for the municipality and the region.
