New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday said that following the change in the government in Delhi, the fight between Centre and the Delhi government might have ended but that does not mean they will be proactive in resolving the air pollution crisis.
A bench comprising Justice Abhay S Oka and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan was hearing the air pollution issue in the National Capital Region (NCR).
Relieved that now Centre, Delhi government won’t be fighting, amicus curiae told bench
Senior advocate Aparajita Singh, who is assisting the court as amicus curiae in the air pollution matter, submitted before the court that half of the time was wasted in fighting over various issues and the issues remain unresolved and with the change in government in Delhi, she was relieved that now the Centre and the Delhi government won’t be fighting.
“Fortunately, now Delhi Government and the Centre won’t be fighting. We are relieved,” Singh said.
They may not be fighting that does not mean they will be proactive, bench said in a lighter vein
“That’s the practical aspect of it. They may not be fighting that does not mean they will be proactive,” the bench said in a lighter vein.
Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Aishwarya Bhati said that she was optimistic that there would no confrontation.
The bench also said that it would consider on February 17 the issue of easing GRAP-IV measures that are currently enforced in the national capital after Bhati sought permission from the court to ease the GRAP-IV measures in view of improvement in air quality trend. The bench also asked the ASG to give an Air Quality Index (AQI) chart.
“Give us a chart (AQI) on February 17. We will consider that. How long this air quality is maintained, it depends on that,” the bench said.
Apex court is monitoring air pollution issue
The top court is monitoring the air pollution issue in Delhi-NCR and the court has expressed its concerns on several occasions in the past while hearing the matter. It earlier said that there was a need to find permanent solutions with respect to stubble burning and various other factors that cause air pollution and it wants to go into all aspects of causes of pollution and will try to find out a permanent solution.
