New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday directed the governments of Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana to comply with the directions issued by the Commission for Air Quality Management in Delhi-NCR and sought compliance reports from them to be submitted before the Court by Wednesday.
A three-Judge bench of the Apex Court, headed by Chief Justice of India Nuthalapati Venkata Ramana and also comprising Justices Surya Kant and Dhananjaya Yashwant Chandrachud, observed that while pollution levels were rising, there was another problem of Covid-19.
The Supreme Court said, “All the directions and advisories are issued and authorities hope all will be good. But, on the ground the result is zero. We need strict compliance of the measures already advised/directed by the Centre, SC and Commission.”
The CJI also made it clear during the hearing that it will ask the Centre through Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta, whether continuing work at Central Vista project was adding to any kind of dust pollution and asked SG Mehta to apprise and explain it as to what steps it had taken to curb air pollution caused by the project in Delhi.
Senior lawyer Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for the Delhi Government, said “Money for labourers has been sanctioned.”
The Court said if the state governments do not implement the directions issued by it, the Centre and the Commission on Air pollution, then it will set up a task force for implementation of measures to reduce pollution and fixed the matter for further hearing to December 2.
SC was hearing the petition filed by Aditya Dubey, seeking appropriate directions and orders to the authorities concerned for controlling pollution in Delhi-NCR area.
