The Green Bench comprising Justices A.K. Patnaik, S.S. Nijjar and Ibrahim Kalifulla issued notices after hearing senior counsel and amicus curiae Harish Salve bringing to the court’s notice the report of the Environment Pollution (Prevention & Control) Authority for the National Capital Region and seeking its immediate intervention. The report said: “Particulate pollution, a serious public health threat and key target of air pollution control measures, is rising rapidly after initial stabilisation. The annual average PM10 levels were reduced by about 16% between 2002 and 2007. Since then particulate levels have increased dramatically by 75%. During the same decade (2002 to 2012), vehicle numbers have increased by as much as 97%, contributing enormously to pollution load and direct exposure to toxic fume. Studies show that about 55 per cent of Delhi’s 17 million people, who live within 500 m from any road side, are directly exposed to toxic vehicular fume.”

It said: “This winter, Delhi’s air pollution levels increased to dangerous levels. Almost throughout this winter, levels of PM2.5, tinier particle that go very deep inside the lungs, have remained two to three times reaching up to four to seven times the standards and during high smog episodes even hit eight to 10 times the standards. This is extremely dangerous for people suffering from asthma, other respiratory and cardiac problems and also for children and the elderly.”

Immediate introduction

The report wanted immediate introduction of Bharat Stage IV standards nation-wide and said: “It will give substantial benefits. While Bharat Stage IV particulate standards for cars are 50% cleaner than Bharat Stage III standards and Bharat Stage IV particle standards for trucks and diesel buses are 81% cleaner. Uniform emissions standards will allow trucks and interstate buses to move to cleaner fuel and technology that otherwise pollute cities during transit.

The court in July last had issued notice on the petition filed by Dr. Arvind Gupta, economist, highlighting the pollution being caused by diesel vehicles.

In his petition, he had said: “The data available from the WHO shows that Indian cities are almost 10 times more polluted than the other cities of the world, which is a serious infraction of the fundamental rights of the citizens of India. The WHO estimates that more than two million people die every year from breathing in tiny particles present in indoors and outdoors due to air pollution. PM10 particles, which are particles of 10 micrometers or less, which can penetrate into the lungs and may enter the bloodstream, can cause heart disease, lung cancer, asthma, and acute lower respiratory infections.”