Air pollution has continued to be a serious health risk in Delhi with the levels of tiny particles that carry toxins and go deep inside lungs having remained 3-4 times the standards in the last three years, government data shows.
A committee formed by the NGT and headed by the secretary of the environment ministry has filed its report on how to control air pollution in Delhi, but failed to ‘make any sense.’
“This report outlines generic steps. Nothing substantive has been suggested. It does not reflect any steps taken by authorities to control pollution being caused by vehicles and waste burning,” the NGT said on Wednesday.
Acknowledging that air pollution in Delhi was getting worse by the day, the NGT said, “Mere consideration of these issues at different levels would not do, and no one would help in controlling increasing air pollution.” The committee has been told to submit its plan of action at the earliest.
The tribunal said it is a constitutional and statutory duty of all authorities and ministries to provide clean air. “It is a fundamental right of the people,” it said.
Welcoming the NGT’s orders, pollution-control expert Anumita Roychowdhury said, “We need emergency response and a very stringent road map to bring down pollution levels in all locations and meet the air quality standards in a time-bound manner.” She said authorities must issue health alerts and take regulatory steps like restricting vehicles.
