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New Delhi, Nov 17 (IANS) The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Center to formulate a “long-term strategy” to deal with the recurring air pollution crisis in Delhi-NCR.
A bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai directed the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) and the Delhi government to file a detailed plan, making it clear that the national capital cannot depend on short-term responses every winter.
“You can make suggestions, but they cannot be for two days, a week or three weeks. We need a long-term solution so that this problem gradually reduces every year,” said the bench, comprising Justice K. Vinod Chandran and NV Anjaria were also involved, said Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Aishwarya Bhati.
During the hearing, the top court remarked that it was not inclined to impose “excessive or thoughtless steps” such as a year-long ban on construction, adding that such directions would severely impact livelihoods.
The bench led by CJI Gavai said, “We do not have the expertise to decide which activities should be stopped completely. A large section of the population depends on these activities. We cannot just look at one side.”
Senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, appearing for the intervenors, urged the apex court to adopt emergency measures, saying: “Three out of ten deaths in Delhi are due to air pollution. The PM2.5 particles entering my child’s lungs will never go away. This requires very drastic measures.”
Sankaranarayanan underlined the need to trigger GRAP at very low AQI levels and curb construction.
However, the bench led by CJI Gavai reiterated that a complete lockdown would bring the city to a “complete standstill”.
“Then the courts will also have to stop,” the top court remarked, adding that the judiciary would not issue “bold directions” without expert-backed solutions.
Following media reports of water sprinkling near monitoring stations, the Supreme Court, while posting the matter for hearing on November 19, also sought an affidavit from the Delhi government on the nature and efficiency of the AQI monitoring devices.
“Please bring it day after tomorrow,” the bench led by CJI Gavai directed.
–IANS
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