Delhi HC appalled over government's lack of concern about air pollution

DNA India , Saturday, April 25, 2015
Correspondent : PTI
The Delhi High Court on Friday said it was "appalled" over how bureaucrats are unconcerned over air pollution in the national capital and how cutting of trees could lead to worsening of the situation and called for some "radical" steps to address the issue.

The court said it was not its or the Additional Solicitor General's (ASG) "job" to give an agenda of topics on the issue of air pollution for the government to deliberate upon, rather it was the duty of the officials and bureaucrats and asked what were they doing.

"Not our or your (ASG) job to give agenda to government. It is their (bureaucrats) job to do so. Aren't they concerned about air pollution? What are they doing? Governments come and go... What are they doing? Sometimes it appals us. They are not moved by anything. Something radical has to be done," the court said.

It made the remarks in response to ASG Sanjay Jain's submission that he will communicate to the government the agenda of topics to be discussed to come up with an action plan for Delhi and National Capital Region (NCR). He made the submission in response to the court's observation that the minutes of a meeting recently held between representatives of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Haryana governments as well as the Centre on preparing an action plan to combat air pollution, lacked specifics.

The court said the minutes were very general and vague did not talk of trees or pollutants and contained no details.

"You all don't know how to prepare an action plan and by you all we mean the bureaucracy. We want an action plan which is clear-cut and which everyone can understand and we want you to implement it," it said. It asked the ASG to "impress upon" the central government to come up with an action plan with regard to air pollution in Delhi and NCR.

"The action plan shall address specifics with regard to nature of pollutants found in the air of Delhi," it said.The court said there was also a need for more monitoring stations, which at present number 17, and asked the ASG to meet with officials of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) on the issue.

It gave one week to Delhi Development Authority (DDA), Public Works Department (PWD), Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) and city government to file their reports and affidavits regarding cutting and replanting of trees. The reports were to be filed today as per the court's direction of April 15.

Meanwhile, Delhi government was asked to file an affidavit on the issue of who were the PWD officials who spoke to the media recently and what they had said with regard to the court proceedings. The affidavit was sought after the bench was informed that a newspaper report has quoted officials of the civic body in such a manner as to give the impression that the High Court is holding up or delaying development.

On air pollution inside the court building, an issue highlighted by senior advocate Meet Malhotra on the last date of hearing, it said it will pass directions on May 15, the next date, based on a report given by the Registrar General. As per the Registrar's report, based on a survey carried out on April 21, the air quality inside the court building was beyond safe levels with the lobby and court room 2, where the matter is being heard, exhibiting the worst air quality.

Both the lobby and court room two showed high levels of particulate matter. The explanation for the high concentration of particulate matter (PM) was the poor ambient air quality outside the court premises.

Due to poor air outside, it is not able to dilute the air from within the court and thus the quality of air inside becomes concentrated with PM, Malhotra told the bench. He said more air purifiers are required to be installed within the court rooms as well as doing away with the floor carpets.

 
SOURCE : http://www.dnaindia.com/delhi/report-delhi-hc-appalled-over-government-s-lack-of-concern-about-air-pollution-2080427
 


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