Chief Justice of India NV Ramana stated that if states don't comply with the directions issued to curb pollution in Delhi, it may have to set up an independent task force.
The Supreme Court on Monday asked states, including Delhi, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, to file a response stating how much they have complied with the directions given by it and the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas to curb air pollution in the national capital.
Chief Justice of India NV Ramana stated, “All intentions are good and directions are given (to curb pollution) but the implementation is zero. The only issue is to implement the directions and there is no use by imprisoning someone or charging someone. If it (implementation) is not happening, we can order an independent task force,” according to Bar and Bench.
The bench, also comprising Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice Surya Kant, asked the states to comply with the directions that they have not implemented hereon. It has sought responses by the governments of the respective states by Wednesday and posted the matter for hearing on Thursday, December 2.
During the hearing, the bench also noted that with air pollution, there’s an additional problem of Covid-19, as reports of the new variant — Omnicron — emerge.
Additionally, senior advocate Vikas Singh pointed towards the ongoing construction at the Central Vista. “Larger projects of construction contribute to more pollution. Central Vista cannot be more important that the rising levels of air pollution. I can play videos how dust is coming up from the Central Vista. It cannot be more important the Court’s orders,” he said. The court has sought a response from the Centre regarding this as well.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, noted, “The gap between compliance and non-compliance needs to be bridged. We have now begun personally visiting for compliance.”
Earlier in a hearing last week, the SG had told the court of the various measures put in place to curb pollution, such as implementation of work from home. He stated that after the previous hearing, only the ban on construction activities, which was put in place till November 21, has not continued.
The Supreme Court had also directed that compensation be paid to the construction workers in Delhi amid the ban.
— with inputs from Bar and Bench
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