SC to AAP govt: Take steps to curb air toxicity
Steps also to include ban on sale, possession, bursting of fire crackers
New Delhi, Nov. 24: The Supreme Court on Friday said it would hear a plea seeking a series of steps to curb air pollution, including a ban on sale, possession and bursting of firecrackers across the country, on Dec. 1 .
The plea, which has also sought a solution on the issue of crop burning which is a major source of air pollution in DelhiNCR, was listed before a bench of justices A. K. Sikri and Ashok Bhushan.
Initially, when the matter was called for hearing, the counsel representing the petitioner sought a pass over, which was granted by the top court bench.
Later when the matter was taken up for hearing, one of the lawyers again sought a pass over after which justice Sikri said the plea would be heard next week.
“Is there any urgency? We can have it next week on Friday,” the bench told advocate Gopal Shankarnarayanan, who appeared for the petitioner.
Besides seeking a ban on firecrackers across the country, the petitioner has also sought directions from the court to have environment- friendly vehicles and implementation of regulations on clean fuel and construction.
Earlier on Oct. 9 this year, the apex court had said that no firecrackers would be sold in DelhiNCR during Diwali this year, while banning its sale till Nov. 1.
It had said that its earlier order, temporarily lifting the stay and permitting sale of firecrackers, would be made effective only from Nov. 1.
The SC, in its Oct. 9 order, had said the Nov. 11, 2016 order suspending the licences “should be given one chance to test itself” to see if there would be a positive effect of this, particularly during Diwali.
The court, in its last year’s direction, had suspended all licenses which permit sale of fireworks, wholesale and retail within the territory of NCR till further orders.
The petitioner also sought the court’s directions to the govt to have eco- friendly vehicles and implement rules on use of clean fuel and construction