The Supreme Court of India has taken a stand in the face of the deepening air pollution crisis in Delhi, focusing on the urgent requirement for long-term solutions. This is when the city has been struggling with hazardous levels of air quality and, as a result, has been subjected to Stage IV of the Graded Response Action PlanCurrent Scenario and GRAP IV Measures Delhi’s air quality index (AQI) recently crossed the 400-mark in several areas, categorizing the air as “severe.” This level of pollution is deemed hazardous to public health, with adverse effects on vulnerable groups, including children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing respiratory issues. GRAP IV, enacted to combat such emergencies, includes measures like a complete ban on non-essential construction activities, closure of brick kilns and stone crushers, and restrictions on commercial diesel vehicles. Despite these initiatives, the level of pollution did not improve by much, and the Supreme Court took proactive steps. The bench, under Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, emphasized that measures taken in the wake of pollution are ineffective and urged a holistic, sustainable solution to air pollution. Stand of Supreme Court on Long-Term Solution During the hearing, the Supreme Court expressed its concern over the recurring nature of the crisis, which peaks every winter due to a combination of vehicular emissions, industrial activities, and stubble burning in neighboring states. The bench emphasized that ad-hoc responses like GRAP, while necessary in emergencies, cannot replace systemic changes required to mitigate pollution sustainably. The Court has instructed the central and state governments and the pollution control authorities to present elaborate proposals on long-term measures. This includes developing clean energy sources, enhanced norms of emission for industries and vehicles, and an efficient public transportation system that would decrease private vehicles usage. The Court further emphasized inter-state coordination and the issue of crop residue burning in Punjab and Haryana. Challenges and Public Reaction While GRAP IV has resulted in curbs that reduce pollution directly, enforcement has been accompanied by several economic and logistical challenges. Banning construction workers and daily-wage laborers has been especially crippling for them. It also leads to a controversy, questioning the effectiveness of measures and whether they address some deeper issues like the un-planned urbanisation or management of waste.