Delhi Pollution: As Delhi NCR chokes, memes offer a breath of 'fresh air' amid smog crisis and GRAP 4 enforcement

Delhi is struggling to breathe as pollution levels hit severe levels, blanketing the city in a thick haze for days. With the Supreme Court stepping in, directing NCR states to enforce Stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), the situation is serious. But leave it to social media to lighten the mood—hilarious memes about Delhi's smog are going viral.

Check out some memes here:

Delhi air pollution: An overview

On Monday, the Supreme Court took decisive action to combat Delhi NCR’s escalating air pollution crisis, mandating all states in the region to enforce Stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), even if the Air Quality Index (AQI) dips below the severe 400 mark.?

Both central and state governments have been instructed to submit compliance affidavits, while enforcement teams must be set up immediately to implement the stringent measures.

CREDIT: BCCL

The bench, comprising Justices Abhay S. Oka and Augustine George Masih, pointed out a significant limitation in monitoring farm fires—a major contributor to pollution. Currently, data is sourced from NASA satellites that pass over the region only between 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., missing incidents outside this timeframe.?

To address this gap, the court directed the Centre and the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to tap into data from geostationary satellites, which provide round-the-clock monitoring.

Meanwhile, as pollution levels worsen, the Union Health Ministry issued updated guidelines to states and union territories on handling the health impacts of air pollution.?

Educational institutions are also responding—Delhi University has shifted to online classes until November 23, while Jawaharlal Nehru University announced similar measures until November 22. These steps underscore the gravity of the crisis as Delhi continues to grapple with hazardous air quality.

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