SC directs EPCA to conduct pollution checks at construction sites

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Taking serious note of rising pollution in the national capital, the Supreme Court on Thursday directed Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) to conduct surprise checks at construction sites to ensure that they are not polluting the environment.

In the past few months, the Supreme Court and National Green Tribunal (NGT) have issued a series of directives to tackle air pollution.

Meanwhile, the Centre has told the apex court that it is working on a plan to phase out old diesel vehicles used by them.

The matter of Special Protection Group (SPG) vehicles, most of which run on diesel, also came up during the hearing. The SPG had earlier asked the government to exempt their vehicles from restrictions. The apex court said that it would consider the matter.

The government also informed the Court that it will introduce BS-IV fuel by 2017 and BS-VI by 2020.

In December last year, the Supreme Court had banned sale of high-end diesel passenger vehicles (engine capacity of 2000cc and above) till March 31 and made it mandatory for taxis in Delhi-NCR to shift to CNG fuel.

The court had also asked the Centre to consider phasing out diesel cars more than 10 years old.