“Will you have an action plan ready before pollution attains such lethal levels that the entire city will be shut down and human lives are threatened,” the Supreme Court asked the Centre on Tuesday .
Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar said he would get back to the Supreme Court and sought two days’ time. He promised to share comprehensive details of the government’s plans with the court.
“When pollution increases, first schools are shut down. When it becomes dangerous, construction activities, etc., are shut down. When it becomes even more dangerous, hazardous industries are shut down. When it becomes lethal, the entire city is shut down,” said Chief Justice of India T.S. Thakur, addressing the government. “Well, do you have a plan before pollution levels go to such an extent that it threatens human lives,” Chief Justice Thakur asked.
Justice A.K. Sikri said cities like Beijing and Singapore had to be shut down due to pollution.
“Is that going to be the fate of Delhi,” he asked. Making a stinging comment on the public’s total disregard for warnings against bursting firecrackers on Diwali, Justice Sikri said: “We have to look at why, in the name of religious occasions, we are being allowed to kill others.”
‘Release of toxic carbons’
Mr. Kumar said rampant and uncontrolled commercialisation and industrialisation of Delhi had led to a rise in toxicity. “As an officer of this court, I have to say that there are no residential areas here ... everywhere there is mixed use of land. Master Plan keeps changing. There are no parking lots and construction keeps expanding ... even cars are left idling, releasing toxic carbons,” Mr. Kumar submitted.
The Bench asked the government to keep upgrading its pollution policy. “In the end, you should come out with a sensible policy,” Chief Justice Thakur said.
The court said it would hear the Centre on October 10 and pass appropriate orders.
The court expressed its displeasure at the Delhi government’s level of compliance with its earlier orders to take measures to clamp down on construction and have more vacuum cleaners to rid the roads of dust.
Senior advocate Indira Jaising, for the Delhi government, said the State had six vacuum cleaners. However, they could be used only on arterial and broad roads.
“There is a breach of our earlier orders. You [Delhi government] are in breach of your obligations,” as a government and you are also in breach of our judicial orders,” Chief Justice Thakur observed orally.
The Centre promised to watch the pollution graph.
