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.
Having drawn flak from various quarters for its decision to remove noted environmentalist Balbir Singh Seechewal as member of the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB), the state government on Saturday ordered his re-nomination.
A team of French police officers along with one of their envoy has arrived here possibly to question a National Investigation Agency (NIA) undertrial, a Kerala intelligence official said on Wednesday.
Bampi Pal from Malda in West Bengal was killed on November 25. Neighbours told the police about a foul smell coming from the rented flat that led them to find the body.
On Tuesday, farmers held protests at Phagwara in Kapurthala, Mukerian, Dasuya in Hoshiarpur and Gurdaspur demanding that their pending dues with private and cooperative sugar mills of the last cane crushing season be cleared immediately.
The Delhi High Court on Tuesday sought a response from the Centre, the AAP government and the police on a PIL (public interest litigation) seeking directions to them to allow Sikhs to carry the ‘kirpan’ and the ‘kara’ in public places.
