Angry SC unhappy with Centre, Delhi Govt. on anti-pollution norms
Supreme Court of India
Sets deadline of Tuesday evening to come up with a concrete plan of action
New Delhi, Nov. 15 (Delhi Crown): Listing priorities for the Delhi Government to take up to deal with rising pollution levels in the Delhi-NCR, an agitated Supreme Court on Monday expressed its deep unhappiness with the executive over repeated delays in the implantation of its directions on the issue.
Taking up a petition filed by concerned citizens questioning the poor level of government action to bring down air pollution to acceptable, if not normal levels, the Apex Court set a deadline of Tuesday evening for the Centre, the Delhi government and neighbouring states to come up with a concrete plan of action.
The Supreme Court said: “It is unfortunate that we (the court) have to set the agenda (on anti-pollution measures). The sum and substance is construction, power, transport, dust and stubble burning are the issues. Ask the committee created and decide how to implement the action plan by tomorrow evening.”
It also said that stubble burning was not the major issue, adding that city-related drawbacks needed greater attention.
“So, if you take steps on them, the situation will improve,” the apex court said.
Supreme Court Chief Justice N.V. Ramana, who headed the three-judge bench that was hearing Monday’s petition, urged both the Centre and the city-state of Delhi to impose work from home measures for employees.
It also ordered that movement of non-essential vehicular traffic be stopped to cut industrial pollution and limit the spread of dust in the atmosphere.
Steps also needed to be taken to control stubble burning in Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, the court said.
The poor quality of air over Delhi, Haryana and Punjab has seen people heading towards tourist resorts in Himachal Pradesh, giving scant regard to Covid and Dengue health protocols.
The travel and hospitality sectors in Himachal Pradesh have reported a rise in footfall, with Shimla registering an 80 percent hike in tourist arrivals over the weekend and a high of 40 percent during week days. Meanwhile, political parties continue to trade charges with each other over the failure to tackle the pollution menace. The Congress on Monday accused the AAP of unnecessarily pinning the blame on farmers in Punjab to hide its failures.
The AAP, however, maintained that the situation in the fields of Punjab is primarily responsible for the poor level of air over Delhi.
