Air pollution: Supreme Court asks Delhi govt to frame tree plantation plan, adjourns hearing to Dec 2

• The Supreme Court took a serious note of the deteriorating air quality in Delhi-NCR.

• The SC will ask the Centre whether continuing construction work at the Central Vista project is adding to dust pollution.

• The top court directed the Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government to frame a comprehensive plan for planting trees and saplings in the city.

The Supreme Court on Monday expressed concern over the rising level of air pollution in Delhi amid the looming danger of COVID-19 and questioned authorities over the measures that are being implemented to handle the situation. 

Taking serious note of extreme pollution, a special bench of the Supreme Court comprising CJI NV Ramana and Justices DY Chandrachud and Surya Kant asked the Delhi, Punjab, Haryana and UP governments to explain the steps they’ve taken in compliance with directions by the Commission for Air Quality Management in Delhi-NCR to improve the quality of air. The court set December 2 as the date for the next hearing on the matter, but asked the governments to file compliance affidavits by December 1.

The bench stated that if the state governments fail to implement the directions issued by it, the pollution panel and the central government, then it will set up a task force for implementation of measures to reduce pollution.

Central Vista’s construction adding to dust pollution?

The Supreme Court further said it will ask the Centre whether continuing construction work at the Central Vista project is adding to dust pollution. The court asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to explain what steps were taken to curb air pollution caused by the project in the national capital, ANI reported.

“We’re struggling how to control air pollution in Delhi, whether it is Central Vista or anything else. Don’t think we don’t know anything. Don’t flag certain issues to divert attention. Solicitor General will have to reply on this,” the Supreme Court said.

The Supreme Court took cognisance of Delhi’s double whammy of increasing air pollution and COVID-19 threat. “The Centre says it is taking steps (to improve air quality), but the pollution levels are increasing. And there is a looming danger of virus… Today also air quality is bad, with the AQI clocking at 419. We have to cope with this (air pollution) and also the virus,” the apex court observed.

Frame plan for planting trees, SC directs Delhi govt

The top court directed the Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government to frame a comprehensive plan for planting trees and saplings in the city. The plan has to be submitted to the court within 12 weeks. Furthermore, the court directed the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to take permission of the Chief Forest Conservator to cut trees for the construction of the Phase IV metro expansion project.

It may be noted that the SC had last week pulled up the Centre and NCR states, saying the country’s executive arm is suffering from a “policy paralysis” and “inertia”, waiting for the apex court to step in to control air pollution. The court had asked the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to “commission a scientific study of air quality based on available data of previous years bearing upon recorded levels of air pollution”.