Delhi High Court To Hear Plea Seeking Urgent Measures To Control 'Hazardous' AQI Levels Tomorrow

The Delhi High Court will hear tomorrow a plea seeking a direction on the city authorities to take effective measures, both immediate and long-term, for controlling and reducing air pollution levels and Air Quality Index (AQI).The plea was listed today before Justice Sachin Datta who said that the nature of the plea is of a public interest litigation, and thus the matter should be heard by the concerned bench. “This is in the nature of a PIL. The prayers are far reaching,” he said. “Let the matter be placed before the concerned division bench, subject to the orders of the Chief Justice, tomorrow,” the Court ordered. For context, the PIL bench comprises of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela. The plea has been filed by Greater Kailash-II Welfare Association, through its General Secretary- Sanjay Rana, through Advocate Udian Sharma. The petition states that even though the authorities issued for invocation of Stage III measures when the AQI level had already reached the 'hazardous' category, they failed to secure timely and effective enforcement of the prescribed steps, allowing the aggravated situation to persist unabated.“That such belated and cosmetic action, without any real or substantial on-ground measures till date, has resulted only in further delay, recklessly endangering the lives and health of the people and demonstrating a complete disregard for the seriousness of the present public health emergency,” the plea states. It adds that such a situation is not an isolated or one-off occurrence but a “recurring, seasonal and now almost chronic phenomenon,” resulting in a continuous assault on the lungs and health of the residents of Delhi. The plea seeks effective enforcement of existing measures, including but not limited to GRAP, for controlling air pollution, particularly in respect of construction and demolition dust, road dust, vehicular emissions, industrial emissions and open burning of waste.It further seeks preparation of a Comprehensive Clean Air Action Plan for Delhi, containing sector-wise emission inventories, specific time-bound targets for reduction of air pollution and improvement in AQI, clear allocation of responsibilities to each department, and a robust monitoring framework.The plea also seeks constitution of a unified nodal authority for coordination mechanism with clearly defined statutory powers for planning, implementation and monitoring of measures for air pollution control in Delhi, with provision for citizen participation and transparent public disclosure of AQI.Title: Greater Kailash-II Welfare Association Through its General Secretary: Mr. Sanjay Rana v. Government of NCT of Delhi & Ors

Delhi High Court To Hear Plea Seeking Urgent Measures To Control 'Hazardous' AQI Levels Tomorrow

Nupur Thapliyal

Tags