SC says perennial GRAP is not answer to Delhi air pollution
ENVIRONMENT – POLLUTION
18 NOVEMBER 2025
- The Supreme Court told the Centre that air pollution’s choke-hold on the national capital cannot be pried loose by slapping a “perennial GRAP” (Graded Response Action Plan) across Delhi and the National Capital Region.
- The toxicity had to be dealt with gradually, through a long-term policy, which did not impact the livelihoods of migrant labourers and daily wagers, the court said.
- Amicus curiae Aparajita Singh, focusing on the issue of stubble-burning, explained that the practice grew after the implementation of the Groundwater Preservation Act of 2009, which shortened the time between harvesting paddy and sowing wheat. “So the best option for farmers was to burn the crop stubble,” Ms. Singh explained.
- Mr. Sankaranarayanan suggested advancing the farmers’ schedule for harvesting paddy. “Paddy should be harvested earlier, when the wind does not come to Delhi,” he said.
- The Centre had allocated over ₹2,000 crore to States, including Punjab and Haryana, to buy machinery for the in-situ removal of stubble from the fields in order to use them as manure or as fuel.
