India's top environmental court also banned entry of diesel trucks more than ten years old and petrol cars older than 15 years.
The National Green Tribunal (NGT), the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the Delhi High Court tore into authorities of the Central government and the administrations in Delhi-NCR, ordering fresh measures to clean up the toxic air which continued to breach most severe levels for a third straight day on Thursday.
An irked NGT banned all polluting constructions and industrial activities in Delhi-NCR till the next hearing on November 14. India's top environmental court also banned entry of diesel trucks more than ten years old and petrol cars older than 15 years. No vehicle from outside or within Delhi will be permitted to transport any construction material.
The tribunal slammed authorities for only holding meetings, writing letters and shifting responsibility in "such an environmental emergency", as a fold-four hiked in car parking charges kicked in to force residents to use public transport.
"You go to hospitals and see what people are facing. You kept playing with people's life. Right to life has been infringed upon with impunity by authorities who have been mere spectators to such a crisis," said the bench which also ordered sprinkling of water and a ban on waste burning to reduce pollution levels.
It reminded Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan to ensure that there is no crop residue burning in any part of the states, as video images showed farmers illegally burning paddy stubble in Rohtak.
The NHRC took a "serious view" of the "life-threatening" pollution and sent notices to the Central government, Delhi, Punjab and Haryana, saying the State cannot leave its citizens to die in toxic haze. The top rights panel slammed authorities for denying people their right to life and health.
It also sought reports, within two weeks, from the governments on immediate steps to fight the crisis in Delhi where 20 million people are gasping for oxygen.
"It is apparent that the authorities concerned have not taken proper steps throughout the year to tackle this hazard, which is amounting to violation of the right to life and health of the residents in the region," the NHRC said.
The Delhi High Court also called the situation an emergency one and ordered top officials of the Central government and the states to hold emergency meetings within three days, as a thick grey smog hung low across the region.
The court also suggested cloud seeding to trigger artificial rain so that pollutants can settle down in Delhi where schools are shut for the week.
"London has already faced this situation. It is a killer. Stubble burning is the visible villain in it, but there are other elephants in the room," the bench said. The court also asked the traffic police to ensure there is no vehicular congestion on roads, and provide masks to personnel on duty.
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