SC rejects plea to reconsider decision to set up Smog Towers in Delhi

On Monday, the Apex Court rejected a petition to reconsider its earlier decision of setting up of smog tower in the national capital to deal with or control the air pollution in Delhi.

Senior Lawyer Gopal Shankarnarayanan, appearing for a petitioner against the installation of smog towers, submitted before the court that it will lead to money for Chinese companies & that it has no scientific basis.

A bench of the Top Court, headed by Justice Arun Mishra, rejecting the plea & said that "the prayer is meritless. We are not recalling our orders. Dismissed."

During the hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appearing for the Central Govt informed the Apex Court that work for setting up of the tower has started. Mehta said that a joint affidavit has been filed by the Centre & the Central Pollution Control Board.

Mehta said that "On Aug 8, site survey work was over. Collection of soil samples is underway & geo-technical investigation is going on for the circle design... this is because it needs a structural stability. We are on the process of appointing an architect to make site drawing, etc".

Mehta said that IIT Bombay & TATA projects have also tied up with University of Minnesota as it is a patent protected innovation & the University has agreed to share the technology. "University of Minnesota will also release the supply schedule," he said.

The Supreme Court, which was hearing matters rising out of a PIL filed by environmentalist MC Mehta in 1985 on the issue of air pollution in the Delhi-NCR, then posted the matter for further hearing on Tuesday as it did not have a copy of the affidavit by the Central Govt.

Meanwhile, the Punjab Govt submitted that it is facing financial problem due to Coronavirus & not in a position to provide subsides to farmer to purchase machinaries to deal with stubble burning problem.

The Court ordered Delhi Chief Secretary to file an affidavit on the present status of 13 pollution hotspots in the city & steps taken to control the pollution level.

The Bench asked, "What steps have been taken. We wanted affidavit on all issues, not just stubble burning... We want involvement of center on formulation of rules/law to prevent & confiscate vehicles running on kerosene".

The Supreme Court observed that Kerosene run vehicles cannot ply on roads. "It's a sinister thing. These vehicles should be confiscated. If it's allowed things will never approve," it added asking the Centre, Delhi government & Environment Pollution (Prevention & Control) Authority to file report on air pollution aspect.

The Govt of Delhi also told the Court that action plans have been created for all the pollution hotspots in Delhi, to which Justice Mishra said that they have seen some hotspots have reduced in size but pollution not reduced in entirety.

Delhi Chief Secretary told the Court that "We have taken several steps to reduce traffic congestion, open waste etc. District commissioners made individually responsible. Right now due to lockdown air pollution is down, AQI is at 100. But we will continue taking action in the coming days".

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