NGT raps Punjab, Haryana over their plan on pollution
BENCH SUMMONS ENVIRONMENT SECRETARIES OF, PUNJAB, HARYANA, UP, DELHI AND RAJASTHAN ASKING THEM TO GIVE A ’WORKABLE SOLUTION’
NEW DELHI: The National Green Tribunal on Thursday slammed Punjab and Haryana governments for filing generalised action plans to combat air pollution and directed them to refer to its previous judgements on the issue.
A bench headed by NGT chairperson justice Swatanter Kumar also summoned the environment secretaries of, Punjab, Haryana, UP, Delhi and Rajasthan asking them to give a “workable solution” for combating the problem of pollution.
The tribunal took exception that Punjab and Haryana were following the Supreme Court-appointed Environment Pollution Control Authority’s (EPCA’S) comprehensive action plan and not applying their own mind.
During the proceedings, both the states told the green panel that a slew of measures including stopping construction work, burning waste, shutting schools and monitoring of industries causing emissions will be taken whenever pollution is beyond prescribed limits continuously for 48 hours.
“What is the logic of waiting for 48 hours? There is nothing 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 you apply your own brains? In this country, it is a dream to have prescribed norms of air quality,” the bench observed.
When the bench asked the Delhi government its stand on the odd-even scheme, the counsel appearing for it said the government wants to implement it with exceptions and has also filed a review plea in this regard which will be heard on Friday.
The tribunal had on Wednesday slammed the Delhi government and the neighbouring states over their action plan on ways to deal with severe air pollution in the city and directed them to 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 the neighbouring states of Punjab, Haryana, UP and Rajasthan to file the action plan afresh.