The Supreme Court on Monday ruled out imposing a blanket ban on construction activities in Delhi, stating that environmental protection cannot come at the cost of halting essential development.
Calling sudden bans merely “temporary solutions,” the Court said such measures do little to address the National Capital Region’s recurring air pollution crisis. The bench stressed the urgent need for sustainable, science-based strategies that strike a balance between development and environmental safety.
While acknowledging the severity of Delhi’s pollution levels, the judges noted that critical infrastructure projects cannot be paused every time air quality deteriorates.
The Court instructed authorities to focus on dust control, industrial emission regulation, and strict monitoring of vehicular pollution instead of relying on short-term restrictions that fail to offer lasting relief.
The decision comes as Delhi continues to battle hazardous air quality, deepening the debate on how best to tackle pollution without disrupting development.
