Air pollution in Delhi-NCR | Centre expresses unwillingness before the Supreme Court to ask its employees to work from home and instead it has advised its employees in Delhi to resort to carpooling to reduce the number of vehicles used by them for commuting.Centre tells Supreme Court, through an affidavit, that number of vehicles used by Central government is a minuscule fraction of the total vehicles in the national capital and stopping their plying would not make much impact towards improving the air quality of Delhi.Centre in its affidavit points out directives issued by Commission for Air Quality Management for Delhi-NCR & adjoining areas that included ban on entry of trucks in Delhi till Nov 21 except trucks carrying essential commodities, closure of thermal plants, ban on constructionCentre in its affidavit points out directives issued by Commission for Air Quality Management for Delhi-NCR & adjoining areas that included ban on entry of trucks in Delhi till Nov 21 except trucks carrying essential commodities, closure of thermal plants, ban on constructionSolicitor General tells Supreme Court that the Commission for air quality management for Delhi-NCR and adjoining areas meeting was held and all Chief Secretaries of NCR states and Central ministries senior officials and certain mandatory directions were issued to StatesSolicitor General tells SC that the Commission issued direction to Delhi and other NCR States to ensure that all industries having gas connectivity run only on gas as fuel failing which the industry has to be close.Industries using unapproved fuels should be closed with immediate effect and industries having gas connectivity should be immediately shifted to gas, SG tells Supreme Court.On vehicular pollution, SG informs SC that Commission ordered (state) authorities to ensure diesel vehicles that are over 10 years old &petrol vehicles over 15 years old shouldn’t be allowed to ply; asked Delhi govt to put on road adequate no. of CNG buses at the earliestCommission directed the NCR states to strictly ban the use of Diesel Generator sets except for emergency services, SG tells Supreme Court Solicitor General tells Supreme Court that all construction activities except four exempted categories hasve to be stopped till November 21. Commission also directed use of smog towers, sprinklers, and dust suppressants in vulnerable hotspots at least three times a day.SG tells SC that Commission suggested NCR States allow WFH for at least 50% employees till November 21. It (States) should also encourage the same for people working in private establishments.SG tells Supreme Court that Centre’s stand is that instead of Central Government employees being asked to WFH, it has issued a direction to carpool so that the number of Central government vehicles on road is reduced.The Commission also directed all NCR States to close all schools, colleges, and educational institutions and to hold classes via online mode until further orders, Solicitor General tells Supreme Court.Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi appearing for Delhi Govt tells Supreme Court that if stubble burning is 3-4%, it need not be addressed. We want to say it is a causeSupreme Court tells Singhvi that its focus is pollution, and he is raising issues that are not relevant. We have taken care of this and said in our order to request farmers to not be involved in stubble burning for two weeksDebates on TV are creating more pollution than everybody. They don’t understand, statements are taken out of context. Everyone has their own agenda, says Supreme Court.Singhvi tells Supreme Court that the figures on stubble burning would be much higher in November and asks Supreme Court to not ignore them. Delhi government says source-based breakup of contribution to pollution is yet to be done.Delhi government tells Supreme Court that 90% of what the Centre proposed has been done by Delhi government and the suggestions are modelled on Delhi government’s measures.SC says what it’s seeing is the plight of farmers. People sitting in Delhi in 5, 7-star hotels criticise how they contribute 4, 30 or 40% to pollution. Have you seen their (farmers) earning per landholding?CJI says we ignore the fact that firecrackers are burning despite the ban?On SC asking Delhi govt over steps to curb air pollution; Delhi government says construction sites are being vigorously looked at with day and night patrolling and anti smog guns have been installed. Anti-dust campaign being organised as wellOn sweeping mechanized machines and steps taken for a new purchase order apart from the 69 machines it has, Delhi govt tells Supreme Court that it will give any amount to buy sweeping machinesOn whether it is possible for it to increase the supply of CNG buses, Delhi govt informs SC that it can increase metro and bus frequencies; requests SC to order work from home, ban in vehicles in periphery (adjoining states) too, since no point of such ban only in Delhi.Haryana government tells Supreme Court that it has implemented whatever was suggested by the Commission and that whatever is ordered will be followed.On what it has done for farmers on stubble burning, Haryana government tells Supreme Court that Chief Secretary and District Magistrates are taking stock of the situation so that no stubble burning takes place in these (next) two weeks.Counsel appearing for Punjab government tells Supreme Court the State doesn’t fall under Delhi-NCR region but has taken measures (for stubble burning)CJI NV Ramana says that there has to be some responsibility, not everything can be done through judicial order; asks the reason for the burning of firecrackers in Delhi in past 10 days after Diwali.Solicitor General tells Supreme Court that meteorological scientists were also there in the emergency meeting and according to them the wind flow will be there after November 21; says “Would this court not consider waiting till Nov 21 before implementing harsh measures.”You all say vehicle is the main cause, but gas guzzlers, hi-fi cars run on Delhi roads. Who’ll encourage them to stop this? Delhi says no point in banning vehicles or have WFH if not implemented in neighboring states. We thought Commission will give us steps to stop this, SC saysSC asks SG about how many vehicles are there and how are Central government officials traveling; says “You don’t need all 100 officers in the office, you can instead call 50 officers. There are several government localities, can’t they travel in public transport?SG says WFH in a state like Delhi will have an impact in Delhi but if we (Central employees) go WFH, it’ll have pan-India ramifications. Can the minimum impact it has on pollution outweigh the impact it will have on Pan India functioning; thus we’ve suggested car-pooling, SG addsSupreme Court suggests that Central government officers living in government colonies travel in public transport.SC to hear the matter on air pollution next Wednesday. CJI observes “Bureaucracy has gone into inertia and they don’t want to do anything. Like using sprinklers or water buckets we have to say, this is the attitude of the executive,”
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