Delhi Air Quality: Supreme court Judges accuse state governments of not combating pollution

India’s top court has accused the state governments of “passing the buck” on air pollution and failing to take action to tackle Delhi’s toxic smog.

The Supreme Court also said authorities were only interested in “gimmicks”, rather than concrete measures to combat pollution levels. The levels of dangerous particles in the air – known as PM2.5 – are at well over ten times safe limits in the capital.

City authorities have responded by launching a car rationing system. “Delhi is choking every year and we are unable to do anything,” said Supreme Court Justice Arun Misha.

“The state machinery is not acting… they are passing the buck to each other… Everybody is interested in gimmicks and elections.” From 4^th to 15^th of November, only cars with either odd or even number plates will be allowed on the roads each day, officials said. Such a system has been used before, but it’s not clear if it actually helps bring down pollution.

Cars are not believed to be the main cause of Delhi’s toxic air, with experts pointing instead to crop burning by farmers in neighboring states to clear fields.

Health officials have advised people to stay indoors and refrain from doing any physical activity as millions are at risk of respiratory illness. Schools are closed down until Tuesday and the shutdown is likely to be extended until Friday as the city continues to choke under a thick blanket of smog.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said the car rationing system, known as the “odd-even plan”, would take hundreds of thousands of cars off the road. Those ignoring the rule will be fined 4,000 rupees (£44; $56) – double that of previous years.

Only public transport, emergency vehicles, taxis and two-wheelers will be allowed. Women driving alone will also be exempt from the rule.

The Supreme Court has ordered Delhi’s state government to produce data which proves that the car rationing system works.