New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday (November 14) agreed to list on November 18 a plea on the prevailing severe category of air pollution in the national capital and seeking enforcement of measure to check the same.
Senior advocate Aprajita Singh, who has been appointed in the matter as amicus curiae, mentioned the matter before Justice Abhay S Oka and Justice Augustine George Masih seeking urgent hearing of the matter in view of the prevailing situation in the national capital.
We should not become the most polluted city in the world, amicus told apex court while seeking urgent hearing
“Since yesterday we have been in severe mode. Just to avoid this situation, this court has asked them to take preemptive action. They have not done anything. We should not become the most polluted city in the world,” the amicus told the bench and added that she has intimated about it to the Commission of Air Quality Management (CAQM) and it should explain about the steps being taken to check pollution.
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The bench took note the submission of Singh and said it would hear the matter on November 18.
Delhi’s AQI at 9am on Thursday was under ‘severe’ category at 428
As per the Central Pollution Control Board, the Air Quality Index (AQI) of Delhi at 9 am on Thursday was 428, which falls under the ‘severe’ category.
The bench earlier had expressed its serious concerns on high pollution levels in Delhi during the Diwali festival and had taken exception to violation of court orders on firecrackers ban, saying that the ban was “hardly implemented”.
‘Why ban on firecrackers is limited to Diwali’, apex court earlier asked Delhi government
The bench, during the last hearing into the air pollution matter, asked the Delhi Government that why a ban on firecrackers is limited to Diwali and directed it to decide on the aspect of “perpetual ban” on firecrackers by November 25. It also directed the Delhi Police commissioner to immediately set up a special cell for implementation of the firecracker ban.
No religion promotes any activity that promotes pollution, apex court earlier remarked
“The right to live in a pollution-free atmosphere is a fundamental right under Article 21 of the Constitution. Prima facie, we are of the view that no religion promotes any activity that promotes pollution or compromises with health of the people,” the bench remarked while hearing the air pollution matter.
