Device a new plan to curb air pollution: NGT tells AAP govt

It Directs Delhi govt to convene meeting to tackle the problem

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) directed the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government on Tuesday to convene a meeting of the concerned authorities to devise a plan to deal with the increasing levels of air pollution in the national capital, after being informed that the second odd-even scheme had not aided in curbing the air pollution menace.

The Bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar passed the order after hearing submissions on a report prepared by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), which indicated that the ambient air quality had in fact deteriorated during the second odd-even scheme implemented in April.

The CPCB had arrived at this conclusion by monitoring several pollutants during the two-week period before the April odd-even phase and contrasting them to the levels of pollution during the scheme’s propagation. The body had earlier informed the NGT that the reduction in vehicular emissions during the second week of the April scheme was not a considerable enough factor to affect air pollution levels in the city.

Tuesday’s order came on an application filed by scientist Mahendra Pandey seeking independent monitoring of Delhi’s air pollution index. Pandey had also cited an Indian Institutes of Technology Roorkee study and claimed that there had been no significant change in air quality during the first odd-even phase in January.

The matter has been listed for further consideration on November 16.