The National Green Tribunal (NGT) is likely to set up a committee of Chief Secretaries of Delhi and four northern States to prepare an emergency action plan to combat the menace of air pollution.
"We propose a committee comprising Chief Secretaries of Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, who shall meet once in two months and prepare an action plan for implementation of directions on air pollution," a Bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar said on Wednesday.
The green panel asked the State Governments to classify different levels of pollution while asking the Chief Secretaries to take disciplinary action against officials who were not executing the orders on air pollution.
"Have any of the States ever thought of how to deal with the pollutionIJ What kind of pollution do you anticipateIJ We are asking you whether any of your wise officers have ever sat together to classify different levels of pollutionIJ It may be poor, bad, hazardous or emergency. These are different levels of pollution. Have any of them applied their mind on thisIJ
"It is very shocking the way people of Delhi have been treated for the last seven days. You are not able to persuade people not to burn crackers in Diwali. People were bursting crackers even on Chhath. You must credit the people of Delhi that they are so tolerant," the Bench added.
It further explained that the committee could meet in places like Delhi, lucknow or Chandigarh and any decision taken in these meetings will apply to all the five States.
The NGT further proposed a sub-committee comprising secretaries of Environment, Urban Development, Central Pollution Control Board, State Pollution Board which would report to the main committee and submit report on implementation of the decisions taken by the panel.
The Bench, however, said it would pass its order on pollution matters on Thursday which would have huge inter-State implications.
It lambasted the States for not devising an effective action plan and implementing it on the ground level. On the issue of sprinkling water on roads to contain dust pollution, the Delhi Government and other neighbouring States once again came under attack from the NGT.
Accounting Punjab and Haryana Governments to task for not taking action against rampant crop burning in their States, the Bench asked their counsel to take clear instructions on stopping grant of free electricity to such offenders.
"Providing free power is a very laudable step. But how can you permit the exploitation of Government resources to such an extent that it causes havoc on some other community. Are you ready to make statement that grant of power to farmers who burn crop residue should be stopped forthwith," the Bench said.
The city's air quality finally turned a shade better on Wednesday after a prolonged spell of smog marked by "severe" level of pollutants that lingered on for nearly a week. Pollution experts attributed the improvement, to wind speed gaining momentum and that too blowing from the west region instead of the north west region, which is the hotspot of stubble burning.