New Delhi, October 30: The Supreme Court on Monday ordered a ban on all 15-year-old petrol and 10-year-old diesel vehicles in Delhi NCR region. This comes after the air quality of Delhi deteriorated to a "very critical" mark. The apex court has directed transport authorities to announce that such vehicles will be impounded if found running on the roads.

The information was shared on the website of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and transport department of NCR. The apex court also directed CPCB to immediately create social media accounts on which people can lodge their complaint about the pollution so that action can be taken. Delhi Air Pollution: Rising Vehicular Emission a Major Contributor in Deteriorating Air Quality in NCR.

A bench of justices S Abdul Nazeer, Madan Lokur and Deepak Gupta said that the advertisement for the ban should be posted in the newspapers. Making a note on air pollution, the Supreme Court questioned Delhi government saying, "If you take a walk in the evening to the Old Delhi railway station, you will see poor people on cycle rickshaws. They have no option but to work outside to earn a living. Hundreds of people are earning their livelihood outside... how do you tell them? Will you tell them to kill themselves by working in all this pollution?"

However, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal blamed stubble burning in Congress-led Punjab and BJP-led Haryana for the rising air pollution. The Delhi CM also blamed the Centre for its "inaction." Earlier, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had banned 10-year-old diesel and 15-year-old petrol vehicles in Delhi NCR but the apex court rejected NGT order of banning vehicles.

Air Quality Index in Delhi Today

The Air Index Quality (AQI) of Delhi's Lodhi Area was recorded at PM 2.5 at 280 and PM 10 at 280 both in the 'poor' category. There are six AQI categories, namely good, satisfactory, moderately polluted, poor, very poor, and severe. AQI between O and 50 is considered "good", 51 and 100 "satisfactory," 101 and 200 "moderate," 201 and 300 "poor," 301 and 400 "very good" and 401 and 500 "severe."

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 30, 2018 09:38 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).