Government faces ire of SC, DHC & NGT for failing to curb pollution

NEW DELHI: The " emergency" like smog scenario and government's failure to have a contingency plan in hand to deal with it today evoked sharp reactions from the courts which castigated it by making remarks like the authorities were "waiting for people to die" without showing the least concern for health of citizens, leading to a "genocide" like situation.

As the day progressed, news start pouring in from Delhi High Court, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and the Supreme Court with all the three slamming the inaction of the Centre and four northern states to deal with poor air quality in the city which has left the people "gasping for breath".

After the first news came from the high court that the alarming pollution level was literally a 'capital punishment' for Delhi'ites robbing three years of their lives, the action shifted to the NGT which said why should the people be exposed to such severe air pollution.

The final stinging remarks came from the apex court which in the second half of the day pulled up the Central Pollution Control Board ( CPCB) for its "sluggish" response by making it clear that it cannot "allow the things to go out of hands".

The apex court also passed a slew of directions for the Centre to come out with a comprehensive plan to deal with the graded level of worsening air quality.

While the high court passed limited directions by asking the Chief Secretary of Punjab to explain why its directions to prevent stubble burning were not being complied with, the NGT ordered setting up of centralised and state level monitoring committees.

An apex court bench headed by Chief Justice T S Thakur also passed several directions including a meeting of all stakeholders with CPCB chairman to be held on November 19 to deliberate upon the contentious issue.

The top court also said that CPCB, in consultation with the government, will also prepare a detailed plan specifying what measures have to be taken and which authority will be responsible for implementing those recommendations in a time bound manner.