SC terms Delhi smog life-threatening

Seeks response of Centre, Punjab and Haryana govts.

Choking capital: A view of Vijay Chowk in Delhi covered by smog on Monday.

The Supreme Court on Monday sought the response of the Centre and the governments of Punjab, Delhi and Haryana on measures taken to counter the smog and pollution choking the national capital and surrounding areas.

Acknowledging the dire consequences that continued exposure to peaking levels of air pollution would visit on the public, including schoolchildren, a Bench led by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra said long-term preventive measures should be taken to end this life-threatening situation caused by stubble burning and dust from construction activities.

Long-term solution

Noting that the petition filed by advocate R.K. Kapoor, highlighting the need for action, should be restored to an appropriate Bench, the Supreme Court said it would focus on chalking out a long-term solution to the problem. Other forums like the National Green Tribunal (NGT) should go ahead with hearing the pollution cases, it said.

The apex court’s green signal to the NGT came on a day the tribunal pulled up the Uttar Pradesh government for not complying with its order to ban construction in the National Capital Region despite PM10 level being over 900. The tribunal described the State’s attitude as making a “mockery of the system.”

Mr. Kapoor suggested in his petition that incentives for farmers and alternative methods such as sprinkling water on trees and the streets would reduce the pollution.