SC seeks public, expert suggestions to control air pollution

The government had set up the commission to preempt a court move to step in and initiate measures to clean up the air in the capital. The court has since slammed the commission for acting merely as an office forwarding court orders to state governments.

The Centre and the commission have insisted that ‘all steps have been taken’ to deal with the problem. The government said ‘remedial steps were taken’ to deal with the problem as envisaged under a graded response plan which mandated the government to gradually shut down industry and construction and even schools and colleges if air quality dipped beyond a point. While these measures could be termed reactionary, the Centre is yet to formulate a method to prevent pollution from reaching dangerous levels as it involves preventing crop stubble burning by farmers.

The Commission in an affidavit submitted to SC said that although thermal plants had been shut down, it cannot be continued for long as it may cause a power supply crisis. The government also said that it had lifted the ban on industry working beyond 8 hours. The commission had left the issue of opening schools and lifting a ban on construction work except on important national projects to the court.

Schools were shut down after the court slammed the government for keeping schools open while recommending work from home for non-essential government employees. Essential services were asked to undertake carpooling and use public transport. The private sector was also advised to work from home.

With the air pollution levels not going down, the bench, which also comprises justices DY Chandrachud and Surya Kant, have demanded answers on what was fuelling pollution and ways to address them. A major chunk of the pollution is believed to be from industry, construction, vehicles and dust around the year but stubble burning contributes to sudden spurt in pollution levels before onset of winter to unimaginable levels. The court wants the government to quantify the contributory factors and bring in a comprehensive plan to eradicate smog which makes it impossible to live in Delhi-NCR during winter.