In light of high levels of pollution in the national capital, the Supreme Court on Saturday suggested that the Centre and the Delhi government consider imposing a two-day lockdown in the city. Hearing a petition in this matter, the court stated that the air quality in Delhi is “severe” and will deteriorate further in the next 2-3 days. “A long-term solution will be considered later,” it added. “You have to look at this issue beyond politics and government. Something must happen so that in two to three days we feel better,” the bench told the Centre.

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The court also stated that farmers cannot be held solely responsible for rising pollution levels due to crop stubble burning, and that the authorities must address other factors such as vehicular pollution, dust and industrial pollution. 

It further ordered the Centre to hold an emergency meeting of all stakeholders. 

A Supreme Court bench headed by the Chief Justice of India (CJI) NV Ramana was hearing a petition filed by Aditya Dubey, a 17-year-old Delhi student, about the city’s rising levels of air pollution. 

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Air pollution in the national capital is a “serious situation,” according to Justice Ramana, to the point where “we are wearing masks even inside our homes.” The Supreme Court had previously ordered the Centre to take action and the Delhi government to file an affidavit in this regard.

On Friday, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) recorded an AQI of 471 in Delhi, indicating that the air quality had deteriorated to near-emergency levels. Meteorological conditions are expected to be highly unfavourable for pollutant dispersion until November 18, according to a subcommittee on the Graded Response Action Plan (Grap). It further suggested that the agencies concerned must be fully prepared to implement measures under the “emergency” category. 

One of the major causes of Delhi’s pollution is thought to be a record number of farm fires. According to Hindustan Times’ analysis of data from heat-sensing satellites, there have been 24,694 fire incidents in the area since November 8.