‘Ensure residents don’t travel towards illness with each breath’

‘Medically it is being advised that people should leave Delhi.’

On air quality

NGT, April 7: “In the recent past the media particularly the print media has highlighted the adverse impact of deteriorating ambient air quality in NCR Delhi and particularly Delhi city per se. The articles widely published are based on scientific studies and are well supported by data. The articles reveals that 7 years ago everyone saw Delhi air taking a dead U-turn, but no action was taken. Statistics referred are that in 2000, the particulate matter in the air was 191 µg/cu.m. which reduced to 161µg/ cu.m. in 2007 because of the orders of the Supreme Court introducing CNG transport system. However, in 2014, particulate matter has again shot up to 360 µg/cu.m.”

Directive: “Authorities were required to submit their views on control of construction pollution, checking of vehicles for pollution at the state entry point, overloading of trucks and construction of parking areas in all congested places of Delhi… Unfortunately, we find no response in that regard. We hereby issue directions to all the state governments, public authorities, corporations and Govt of NCT Delhi to produce all original records to show what action has been taken by all or any of them for compliance of directions issued by the tribunal so far.”

On illness

NGT, April 7: “It has been pointed out that diesel is the prime source for bringing serious air pollution in Delhi particularly and children are even finding it difficult to breathe. The situation is so alarming that medically it is being advised that for recovery, people should leave Delhi. The question that arises at present, and what the residents of Delhi are most concerned (about) is, what the principle of inter-generational equity requires…”

On trucks

NGT, April 7: “It is reported further that as many as 80,000 trucks enter Delhi every night and the sleeping population is compelled to inhale high particulate matter resulting in serious health hazards as diesel fuel can damage the lungs, brain and even cause cancer.”

Directive: “With regard to the compliance of the conditions for check booth at all entry points for checking of emission standards of heavy vehicles, weigh bridges, overloading of trucks and life of the vehicles, we appoint the following learned advocates as Local Commissioners… All authorities particularly the police are directed to provide police help to enable the Commissioners to execute the commission. The report shall be submitted to the tribunal on April 10 and shall also include the status of installation of weigh bridges and providing of U-turn for the vehicles which are overloaded and polluting.”

On construction

NGT, April 7: “On April 6, various newspapers have reported about the huge dust emission resulting from the above mentioned activities in various parts of NCT, Delhi. The reports show huge construction activity emitting very high dust components in the air. The concrete dust in the air can be lethal when it combines with particulate matter arising from vehicular emission. In this report the construction referred to (is) that of a 2 km stretch from NH-24 to Charmurti Chowk in Noida Extension and Golf Course Road, Gurgaon. To the naked eye, uncontrolled and high dust emission are visible in the photographs and it is also clear that no protective measures have been taken in and around the buildings under construction.”

“Besides this, all the construction activities have to be carried out following the Ministry of Environment guidelines/manual for Township and Area Development Project, 2010. It is reported that in Noida Extension, no protective measures have been taken and there was absolutely no check on the emission of dust resulting from construction and allied activities. Similar is the state even in Gurgaon where construction activities are being carried on without any preventive steps as detailed by the order of the Tribunal and MoEF guideline of 2010.”
DIRECTIVE: “We direct state of UP, Noida and Greater Noida Authority, HUDA, state of Haryana and NCT Delhi to immediately direct stoppage of construction activities of all the buildings shown in the report as well as at other sites wherever construction is being carried out in violation of the direction of NGT as well as the MoEF guideline of 2010… Wherever the construction activities are not stopped by service of this order by the authorities upon the builders, the authority shall seal such building and report the matter to the tribunal.”

On diesel

NGT, April 7: “Studies have established that diesel vehicles are a major source of pollution and a major cause for deteriorating ambient air quality. The studies as indicated in the news reports are not the only material before the tribunal. We, however, had directed the Central Pollution Control Board to carry out the study on ambient air quality. The report submitted by CPCB clearly shows that the parameters are totally violated… other study report mentions much worse about other parts of Delhi…We may also mention that many of countries of the world are in the process of doing away with diesel vehicles and are imposing very heavy taxes and levies on such vehicles. Such countries include Brazil, China, Sri Lanka, Denmark… Certain stringent measures need to be taken to improve the ambient air quality in NCR Delhi and to ensure that the residents do not travel closer to ill-health (with) each breath that they take.”

Directive: “Thus we hereby direct that all diesel vehicles (heavy or light) which are more than 10 years old, will not be permitted on the roads of NCR Delhi. All the registering authorities in the state of Haryana, UP and NCT Delhi would not register any diesel vehicle which is more than 10 years old and shall file the list of vehicles before the tribunal and provide the same to the police and other concerned authorities. Petrol vehicles which are more than 15 years old and diesel vehicles that are more than 10 years old shall not be registered in NCR Delhi.”

Source:: Indian Express