The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked sharp questions to the central government on the pollution issue. As soon as the hearing started, the petitioner’s lawyer Vikas Singh said that a news was published in a newspaper that no fine was imposed for burning stubble due to elections in Punjab. On this CJI NV Ramana said that we are not related to this. Vikas Singh said that we are worried about pollution, then Justice Chandrachud said that the states cannot be micro-managed. After this, the CJI asked the Center, ‘You tell what has been done? You had told that from November 21, the situation will be fine. We have been saved due to strong wind, but there was news of the Meteorological Department that from this evening it could be serious again. Not because of that. Can you tell what steps have been taken? The Solicitor General said that on November 20, the AQI was 403, yesterday it was 290. Today it is 260. A written note was given by the Central Government, which was read out by Tushar Mehta.
The Supreme Court asked whether schools are open? So Tushar Mehta said that the schools are closed and now the Delhi government will decide. He said that due to industrial pollution, 6 thermal power plants are closed till November 30, construction activity was stopped in NCR till November 21, it will be increased if needed. Will review again a day later. The trend of pollution level is going down. When the CJI asked, the construction activity has started, on this Tushar Mehta said – Yes. It has been reported that the level of pollution will fall. The pollution situation has improved a lot. The trend is down. He said that between November 17 and November 21, strict action was taken against parking violations and construction for four days. 11 lakh fine was imposed on illegal parking, 578 cases of violation of construction rules, 262 cases of non-compliance construction. More machines were found for dust management. There are also more smog guns, sprinklers and cleaning machines. On this, Justice Chandrachud said that the problem should be solved by scientific method, a study should be done about it. He said that we do not know how much work they will do. These need to be linked with data models on a scientific basis..Wind speed is a function of God based on which you have to give a graded response. Everything needs to be done on scientific basis.
