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 victims were accompanied by the SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal, Union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal, party MP Naresh Gujral and heads of Sikh religious bodies SGPC and DSGPC.
Justice Anand Venkatesh allowed a batch of petitions and criminal original pleas from various spa and massage centres seeking quashing of FIRs and release of girls (who are therapists) lodged in government homes.
Supreme court said this while quashing an case lodged by a Maharashtra-based nurse against a doctor, who were in a live-in relationship "for quite some time".
The maximum number of incidents took place in 2008 when 943 cases were reported. The year witnessed most lives--167--lost to violence and 2,354 people were injured, said the year-wise data.
The police suspect the accused persons got access to the businessman's unique SIM number and initiated a SIM swap and then moved his money to other bank accounts through multiple transactions, he said.
Minister of State for External Affairs VK Singh, replying to a question in the Lok Sabha, said such information may include details about persons allegedly involved in corruption.
