NGT raps Punjab, Haryana over their action plan on pollution
New Delhi, Dec 7 (PTI) The National Green Tribunal todayslammed Punjab and Haryana governments for filing generalisedaction plans to combat air pollution and directed them torefer to its previous judgements on the issue.
A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumaralso summoned the environment secretaries of Delhi, Punjab,Haryana, UP and Rajasthan asking them to give a "workablesolution" for combating the problem of pollution.
The tribunal took exception that Punjab and Haryana werefollowing the Supreme Court-appointed Environment PollutionControl Authority's (EPCA's) comprehensive action plan and notapplying their own mind.
During the proceedings, both the states told the greenpanel that a slew of measures including stopping constructionwork, burning waste, shutting schools and monitoring ofindustries causing emissions will be taken whenever pollutionis beyond prescribed limits continuously for 48 hours.
"What is the logic of waiting for 48 hours? There isnothing great about the action plan which you have prepared.
It is your basic function which you have to do all the time.
"Why have you referred to the EPCA's plan? Why don't youapply your own brains? In this country, it is a dream to haveprescribed norms of air quality," the bench observed.
When the bench asked the Delhi government its stand onthe odd-even scheme, the counsel appearing for it said thegovernment wants to implement it with exceptions and has alsofiled a review plea in this regard which will be heardtomorrow.
The tribunal had yesterday slammed the Delhi governmentand the neighbouring states over their action plan on ways todeal with severe air pollution in the city and directed themto file a detailed document to tackle with the problem.
It had observed that air pollution was never at the"normal level" in the national capital and directed theneighbouring states of Punjab, Haryana, UP and Rajasthan tofile the action plan afresh.
The counsel for the Delhi government had filed the planwhich recommended implementation of odd-even plan, entry oftrucks in the city, ban on construction works and disallowingchildren from playing outside when air quality turns severe.
The counsel for petitioner Vardhaman Kaushik, who hadfiled plea against worsening air quality in Delhi, had saidthe action plans submitted by the states were merely "an eye-wash" and they have only "copy-pasted" the recommendations ofthe Supreme Court appointed EPCA.
Earlier, the NGT had directed the Central PollutionControl Board, Delhi Pollution Control Committee and everystate pollution control board to file ambient air qualityanalysis before the tribunal on monthly basis and also put upon their websites to enable the concerned authority to takeeffective steps to control air pollution. PTI PKS AGARC.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.