The National Green Tribunal has pulled up the Delhi Government for its lackadaisical approach in implementing the green panel’s directions to curb vehicular pollution in the Capital.
“What steps have you taken in furtherance to our orders dated November 26, 2014. You have a whole team of officers at your disposal, still you have done nothing.”
“Studies have shown that Delhi’s air pollution is very injurious to human health. Don’t treat us strangers to Delhi,” a Bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar said, which was anguished at the absence of the government’s main counsel. The observations came while hearing a petition of Vardhaman Kaushik, who had contended that “the level of particulates in Delhi is rising manifold and the reasons for which should be identified and curbed.”
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During the hearing, the tribunal also came down heavily on the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) and directed it, along with the Delhi Pollution Control Committee and the Central Pollution Control Committee, to conduct random inspection of 15 old and 10 new low-floor buses to check if they comply with the environmental norms and whether they have a valid pollution control certificate.
Earlier, a report submitted by the Joint Commissioner of Transport had stated that 186 DTC buses were found without valid pollution under control certificate on December 28, 2014.
The tribunal directed the NCT, Delhi and the DPCC to create a web portal where any aggrieved person can take photographs and upload these with details of location, bringing these to the notice of these authorities. — PTI
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“What steps have you taken in furtherance to our orders dated November 26, 2014. You have a whole team of officers at your disposal, still you have done nothing.”