National Green Tribunal takes suo motu cognisance of media reports highlighting deteriorating air quality in Delhi
Oct 21, 2023
New Delhi [India], October 21 : The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has taken suo motu cognizance of media reports highlighting the deteriorating air quality in the National Capital and sought an Action Taken Report (ATR) from the Centre, Delhi Government and Municipal Corporation of Delhi.
The bench headed by NGT's chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava also comprising Dr A Senthil Vel (expert member) in an order passed on October 20, 2023, stated that "having regard to the concern expressed in the media reports, we have taken this matter in suo motu exercise".
We deem it proper to implead the Chief Secretary (Delhi), Member Secretary Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), Commissioner, Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), Member Secretary, Central Pollution Control Committee (CPCB) and Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), said the Bench.
Let notice be issued to the respondents and respondents are expected to file their action taken report on controlling air pollution from different sources in Delhi in accordance with GRAP to maintain AQI in acceptable range to safeguard public health in view of winter season ahead, stated the bench of NGT.
The Tribunal has fixed November 8, 2023, for hearing the matter in detail.
The Tribunal has taken up the matter on the basis of various media reports stating, "Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) Stage 1 kicks in as air quality dips to poor, conditions likely to prevail till Sunday."
As per the said report, the air quality for the relevant day had deteriorated from Air Quality Index (AQI) 177 to AQI 212, whereas the AQI between 201 and 300 is considered to be 'poor' and can cause breathing discomfort to most people on prolonged exposure, noted the bench.
Another media report stated that though the capital GRAP has been made applicable, there is an open violation and most of the violations are in respect of the construction activities that are leading to dust pollution, noted the NGT.
