New Delhi: A Bench led by Chief Justice NV Ramana is hearing the case related to air pollution in Delhi. The three-judge bench also includes Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice Surya Kant.
Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for the Delhi government, stated that the centre in its affidavit filed in SC has stated that it has active action plans and has proposed short term and medium-term plans to curb the pollution in Delhi-NCR. It assertively mentioned notices of site closure being issued to industry emissions, diesel generator sites, construction or demolition sites after an inspection by the flying squads. “Operation of thermal power plants within three hundred kilometres of the radius of Delhi shall continue to be regulated in terms of commissions latest order dated November 30, 2021, whereby, only five out of eleven thermal power plants, have been permitted to schedule their operations and the rest have been directed to remain inoperative till at-least December 15, 2021, affidavit stated.”
The flying squads paid surprise visits to several industrial and semi-industrial setups based on which closure notices were issued. Inspecting around 1534 sites in Delhi-NCR r, a total of 228 sites were issued the above notice by the enforcement task force. The Centre further informed the court about maximum violations being reported in industrial sectors that contribute majorly to pollution during winters. With this in view, the task force issued directions to neighbouring states contemplating them to shift their industries to cleaner fuels.