Extinguish landfill fires, use CNG: Delhi HC

The Delhi High Court on Friday advocated extinguishing of fires at landfill sites and ensuring that only CNG taxis entered the national capital to improve the city's air quality.

A division bench of Justice B.D. Ahmed and Justice Jayant Nath also directed the states neighbouring Delhi to come up with an action plan to streamline the grant of all-India permits to inter-state taxis so that diesel cabs can be turned into those running on compressed natural gas.

The court was hearing a public interest litigation on the air pollution in Delhi.

The court asked the Delhi government to issue an advisory on the Delhi air quality, noting that air pollutants are four times the prescribed standards.

The court observed that fires at landfill sites and stubble burning in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, fireworks, road dust, construction work, plying of all-India permit diesel cabs in the city were all responsible for high pollution levels.

After the court was informed that a half-marathon will be held in Delhi on November 20, the bench said: "If anyone can run a marathon in Delhi, they can run anywhere."

Airtel Delhi Half Marathon 2016 -- one of the Delhi's largest annual sporting event -- will be held on Sunday.

--IANS

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