Air pollution hearing in SC: Apex court slams Delhi govt for opening schools amid increased toxic AQI
The Supreme Court on Thursday slammed the Delhi government for opening schools for children in the national capital amid rising pollution levels and toxic air quality. The apex court has asked the Delhi government, when elders are working from home due to the extreme air pollution then why are children being forced to go to school. The Supreme court has also expressed concerns by observing that nothing is happening, despite the increase in air pollution levels.
The Central government said to the Supreme Court, that industries that were found to be non-compliant, were closed and State govts were intimated. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appearing for the Centre said that things are going on at jet speed and officers are working round the clock, news agency ANI reported.
Earlier, 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 had 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 had set December 2 as the date for a hearing on the matter but asked the governments to file compliance affidavits by December 1.
