Pollution levels in Delhi skyrocket, rain likely Tuesday
New Delhi: After a brief letup, the pollution levels skyrocketed in Delhi on Sunday with the air quality becoming hazardous. The pollution monitoring authorities said there may be some respite from Monday evening as surface winds will gain momentum. Light rain predicted on November 14 and 15 is likely to bring respite to the people gasping for breath.
The National Green Tribunal slammed the city authorities for not complying with its earlier orders to decongest traffic and has directed the Delhi government and the municipal corporations to ensure availability of adequate parking facilities for cars to discourage road-side parking.
“Why have you not created adequate parking place for cars? You people are responsible for creating a mess on the roads by creating two-three lanes of parking. Why don’t you cancel the agreement with contractors, who abuse their terms. These parking people become officers and traffic police just watches them,” a bench headed by NGT chairperson justice Swatanter Kumar said.
The tribunal also said that if new cars were being allowed to register then they must be given proper parking spaces.
“For instance, the multiple parking at Sarojni Nagar remains empty, and all vehicles are parked on the roads where some contractors collect parking fee and add to congestion of traffic.
“The government, corporations, police, contractors and the NDMC should take steps to rectify these discrepancies and ensure better co-ordination between each other,” the bench added.
It also directed the government and the traffic police to challan and seize 10-year-old diesel vehicles and 15-year-old petrol vehicles in a bid to curb air pollution in Delhi.
The National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi counsel for told the tribunal, “A site has been earmarked for keeping the vehicles that have been impounded.”