'You want to ban industries in Pakistan': CJI after UP blames Pak for pollution
Advocate Ranjit Kumar appearing for the UP government told the Apex Court that UP is in the downward wind direction and the air from there does not come to Delhi
The Uttar Pradesh government on Friday told the Supreme Court that UP industries have no role in the rising pollution in the NCR and polluted air from Pakistan deteriorates the air quality of the Capital. 'So you want to ban industries in Pakistan?' Chief Justice of India NV Ramana said in reply.
Senior advocate Ranjit Kumar appearing for the UP government told the Apex Court that Delhi air quality is affected by the polluting air coming from Pakistan. He said the eight-hour operation window is affecting the sugarcane and milk industries in Uttar Pradesh. The CJI-led bench asked the UP counsel to go to teh Commission with the grievance and let them decide on the issue.
The Commission for Air Quality Management has constituted an enforcement task force to look into the pollution situation in the NCR, a day after the Supreme Court bench gave a 24-hour deadline for some concrete actions to combat the rising levels of pollution.
After hearing the steps that have been taken in the last 24 hours, the court allowed the Delhi government to go ahead with the construction work of hospitals.
The commission informed the Supreme Court that a five-member enforcement task force has been set up to contain air pollution in Delhi and NCR. Around 40 such squads would monitor the implementation of measures suggested by it to deal with pollution, the panel said. Seventeen such flying squads have been constituted to ensure the implementation of various measures mandated by the court and the panel. The number would be raised to 40 within 24 hours, the affidavit said.
The Supreme Court was hearing a plea filed by environmental activist Aditya Dubey and law student Aman Banka, who sought directions to provide stubble-removing machines to small and marginal farmers for free.
(With agency inputs)