lashing out at the Delhi Government for not taking timely preventive steps to tackle air pollution in the national Capital, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Monday asked it to sprinkle water on roads to contain dust, even by using choppers.
Why did the odd-even formula fail in DelhiIJ The tribunal said the Government did no prior research before launching the campaign.
Every year, the Government starts thinking about controlling pollution only after the levels cross danger mark, the NGT said. "All the States are shifting burden from one to another. You people don't worry about people's health. Children are not able to go out of their houses due to the smog. See, what have you done to Delhi," the Bench said.
The Tribunal has slammed the Delhi Government, Centre, Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan on the rising levels of pollution and on waking up late on the deadly air pollution issue, moved quickly to engage all stakeholders in the fight against smog.
While the Delhi Culture Minister Kapil Mishra appealed to citizens to come up with suggestions to tackle Delhi's pollution, Health Minister Satyendra Jain hinted a return of the odd-even policy to curb vehicular pollution. Union Minister for Environment Anil Dave also separately held a meeting to discuss the pollution in the national Capital.
lieutenant-Governor Najeeb Jung also held a high-level meeting to discuss the issue.
The tribunal asked all the Governments, "What have you done till now to curb pollutionIJ"
The NGT asked, "Why haven't you started sprinkling water on roads to reduce dustIJ What happened to the proposal of sprinkling water using helicoptersIJ"
"What preventive steps did you take on air pollution in national CapitalIJ We want to know from you why didn't your authorities sprinkle water on roads earlierIJ Why can't you use helicopters to create artificial rain to control dust pollution. Are they only meant to carry your officials," asked a Bench headed by NGT Chairperson justice Swatanter Kumar.