SC wants NCR’S antipollution plan for entire country

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court asked the Centre on Thursday to extend its graded action plan for pollution control in Delhi and National Capital Region (NCR) to the entire country.

A bench headed by Justice MB Lokur said cities such as Raipur and Patna were more polluted than the Capital. “You must have a plan for the entire country. You can extend the plan to the entire country,” the bench told additional solicitor general A Nadkarni, who informed the bench that the government had notified the comprehensive action plan to control pollution in Delhi.

Nadkarni informed the court that the government was working to evolve a nationwide action plan. “It will take some time,” he said. Once the plan is notified, measures such as odd-even car rationing scheme and ban on construction activities will be automatically enforced in a city if pollution levels breach emergency levels.