SC asks Centre to act on pollution in city's air

The Supreme Court on Friday asked the Centre to act on a plea for “urgent second generation” reforms, including advancing Euro-IV and levying cess on purchases of private-owned diesel vehicles, to check growing air pollution in the capital.

A three-judge green bench presided over by Chief Justice H L Dattu directed Additional Solicitor General Maninder Singh to submit the response of the Ministry of Environment and Forest on an application moved by amicus curiae senior advocate Harish Salve.

Salve submitted that situation in Delhi has become worse with growing particulate substances in the city’s air, which had started causing severe respiratory diseases to people.

“Delhi has lost the gains made through the introduction of clean fuel, CNG, as current pollution levels are high and toxic. It is clear that the city needs to do urgent, drastic and long-term second-generation reforms to reduce this burden,” he said.

He read out a report prepared by the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority, which listed out the steps for cleaning Delhi.

The measures included restricting growth of use of private transport through higher parking and other charges, limiting use of diesel, augmenting public transport system and bypassing commercial vehicles not destined for Delhi.

In addition, the central government was required to advance the introduction of Euro-IV (Bharat Stage-IV) across the country from its current schedule of 2017.

“The request made by amicus curiae be considered and implemented. The ASG is to take instruction from the office of the central government. He will persuade persons concerned to look into the suggestions and if possible, implement them,” the bench said, putting the matter for further consideration on January 9.

An analysis of the air quality data provided by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee stated that the average pollution across four representative monitoring stations between October 1, 2014 and November 26, 2014 showed that on 25 days, there was severe pollution of PM 2.5.

“Severe pollution days mean that the level was over 250, which is four times higher than the prescribed standard. On certain days, PM 2.5 levels were over eight times higher than the standard, which clearly means that not only was the level severe but it touched emergency,” the report said.