Delhi pollution: NGT forms committee to check air quality
The National Green Tribunal has formed a committee to stop activities that lead to degradation of the environment, in view of the pollution and traffic congestion during functions at banquet halls, farmhouses and hotels in the national capital. The tribunal has also asked the committee to prepare an action plan in this regard within a month.
Marriage halls are violating norms by organising weddings and other functions without any permission, said a bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel.
The green panel formed a joint committee with representatives of municipal corporations, the Central Ground Water Authority, the Delhi Jal Board, the Delhi Police and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee, which will be headed by the Delhi government's urban development secretary.
An action plan on sewage disposal, groundwater extraction, rainwater harvesting, municipal solid waste management, systems for groundwater recharge will be in worked upon in the first meeting.
It will also have to form a plan to check air quality due to traffic congestions and noise pollution because of use of DJ sets.
The NGT said the action plan must involve all the stakeholders, particularly students and senior citizens. The committee will have the authority to close venues flouting norms and remove every illegal structures, it said.
The committee will also look into allegations of whether members of the applicant are running swimming pools by illegally drawing groundwater without requisite valid sanctions and drawing of groundwater from critical or over-exploited areas, without any mechanism for groundwater harvesting and recharge.
Former Delhi High Court judge justice SP Garg was also appointed by the tribunal to oversee the working of the committee.
"The chief secretary of Delhi will provide all the requisite logistic support and assistance for functioning of the oversight committee. Facilities, if any, already provided may also be used for this purpose," the bench said.
"It is further made clear that re-use of water, after being disinfected as per norms, can be used for swimming pools and such water thereafter, may be used for flushing, by installing double piping system, or utilised for plantation or gardening," the bench said.
Delhi's air quality has been deteriorating rapidly and continues to be in the 'severe' category.
The CPCB-led task force has been conducting inspections across the city to check for violations and has also been advising authorities on the necessary actions that should be taken.
