New Delhi, Jan 6: Observing that the central pollution watchdog is “failing in its duty”, the Supreme Court on Tuesday rapped the authority for seeking a two-month adjournment on the issue of temporary closure or relocation of toll plazas at Delhi borders to ease traffic congestion.
The top court criticised the Commission of Air Quality Management (CAQM) for lack of “seriousness” in its approach and said it appears to be in no hurry to either identify the causes of the worsening Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi-NCR or long-term solutions.
Taking serious note of the severe air pollution levels in Delhi-NCR, the court on December 17 last year issued a slew of directions and asked the National Highways Authority of India and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to consider either temporarily closing or relocating the civic body’s nine toll plazas at Delhi borders to ease massive traffic congestion.
On Tuesday, a bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi directed the CAQM to convene a meeting of experts in two weeks and submit a report on the major causes of the worsening pollution.
The court directed it to start considering long-term solutions in a phased manner and also consider the toll plaza issue, uninfluenced by the stand taken by various stakeholders.
As the hearing commenced, Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for the CAQM, referred to the minutes of the meetings with stakeholders and sought two months’ time on the issue of toll plazas.
The court said the first step is the identification of causes of pollution and refused to grant the request.
It said it will not adjourn the matter beyond two weeks and it will deal with the pollution issue on a continuous basis. (PTI)
