The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Wednesday rapped the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) for not issuing directions to stop all construction activity in the Capital despite the degraded air quality that the city has been reeling under over the last few days.
Responding to claims of illegal industries operating in Delhi, a Bench headed by NGT chairperson Swatanter Kumar asked the CPCB: “Why don’t you pass directions to stop constructions activities in Delhi and why don’t you ask all industries, whether legal or illegal, to shut down for at least a week?”
The claims were made by Naginder Benipal, counsel for the Punjab Pollution Control Board,
‘What’s the hold-up?’
Further, the green panel has also asked the Punjab and Haryana governments to clearly state that steps they have taken to prevent stubble burning.
Rapping the pollution control boards and the Delhi government, the Bench said: “What are you waiting for? Are courts your local guardians? What have you done to the children? Old people are not even able to take a walk. You hold a marathon and then ask people not to run.”
The Tribunal has also directed the pollution control boards of Delhi, Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh whether they had taken any steps to monitor the ambient air quality inside ‘households’.
“You are asking children to stay indoors. Have you checked the ambient air quality inside houses? You want them to breathe the same air,” the Bench asked.
The authorities are expected to respond to the NGT on Thursday.
