SC censures government on air quality, asks Central Pollution Control Board to form committee

The Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday came down heavily on the government and the Central Pollution Control Board for not having an urgent action plan to tackle air pollution, despite the dangerous air quality levels in Delhi and its neighbourhood. 

A Bench headed by Chief Justice T S Thakur asked the board to convene a meeting of officials, experts, doctors, and other stakeholders to chalk out an urgent plan to meet the problem of pollution. The meeting would be held on November 19 and the report is to be submitted to the court on November 25. 

The SC regretted the lack of a plan of action and a graded response to the problem. Currently, the air quality index is graded poor, satisfactory or serious. But there is no plan for response to each of these grades and there is no timeline to meet the emergency situation. 

The court suggested a central control room monitoring the situation daily and an alarm system when the quality crosses acceptable levels. Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar, who handed over a compilation of the steps taken by the government, assured the court that he would come back with a better scheme, as the court was not satisfied with the proposals given. 

He also submitted that by January, the air quality will be brought down from serious to moderate level. Some organisations have moved the court for stopping firing of crackers during the current marriage reason. The court will take up that issue on Friday. The Delhi government told the court that it has already issued a notification banning fireworks except for religious festivals. However, the association of manufacturers of fireworks, mainly from Sivakasi in Tamil Nadu, wanted further dilution of the restrictions, though they are aware of the danger of pollution.