Need an action plan by tomorrow: SC directs Centre, states on curbing air pollution
Darpan News Desk IANS, 15 Nov, 2021 12:18 PM
New Delhi, Nov 15 (IANS) The Supreme Court on Monday sought an action plan within 24 hours from the Centre and state governments, detailing steps taken by task forces to stop air pollution caused by vehicular traffic, construction work, stubble burning, power plants, entry of heavy vehicles, dust, etc.
A bench headed by Chief Justice N.V. Ramana told counsel appearing for the Centre and state governments, "Need an action plan by tomorrow evening. Hold a meeting..."
The top court also asked the Centre and states to allow the people to work-from-home.
The bench, also comprising Justices D.Y. Chandrachud and Surya Kant, noted that the Centre in its affidavit has submitted that stubble burning is not a major factor leading to severe air pollution level in the capital, rather the agricultural burning leads to merely 11 per cent contribution on PM 2.5 and PM 10 concentration.
The top court told the Centre to call an emergency meeting of Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh governments on Tuesday for taking urgent measures to bring down air pollution levels.
The top court also told the state governments to not take action against farmers, rather persuade them to stop stubble burning.
"Don't take action against farmers, persuade them," said the bench. The bench emphasized that action is required to be taken on vehicular pollution, industrial pollution and dust control measures, which contributes nearly 76 per cent to the air pollution.
The Delhi government has told the Supreme Court that it is ready to take steps like complete lockdown to control the local emission, which would help in bringing down the air pollution in the national capital, but added that it will have only a limited impact.
In an affidavit, the Delhi government said: "GNCTD is ready to take steps like complete lockdown to control local emissions. However, such a step would be meaningful if it is implemented across the NCR areas in neighbouring states. Given Delhi's compact size, a lockdown would have limited impact on the air quality regime".
The government said this issue would need to be addressed at the level of airshed involving the NCR areas.
The official mobile phone of an inspector killed in the December mob violence in Uttar Pradesh’s Bulandshahr district has been recovered from the house of the man who allegedly shot him, officials said on Sunday.
A home ministry official said that this year's list of Padma awardees, like past few years, is full of unsung heroes, contributing to the society unnoticed.
In a letter to Pradeep Chhabra, president, Chandigarh Territorial Congress Committee (CTCC), Mr Tewari said,"I am interested in contesting the Lok Sabha elections from Chandigarh."
Tharoor, himself a bestselling author of over a dozen and a half books of fiction and non-fiction, maintained that the media is the fourth pillar of democracy and interfering with the working of the media shows desperation on the part of the ruling dispensation.
Armed youths abducted a woman getting her bridal make-up done at a salon at Ghas Mandi Chowk here on Friday morning. The girl was rescued from Ferozepur, SSP Manjit Singh Dhesi confirmed and said some accused too have been arrested.
