India top court blasts Uttar Pradesh for blaming Pakistan for Delhi pollution

THE Supreme Court of India on Friday (3) came down heavily on the government of the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh after the latter blamed Pakistan for causing air pollution in Delhi and the surrounding areas.

Chief Justice NV Ramana asked the state government whether it wanted a “ban on industries in the neighbouring country”.

The apex court has taken the matter of Delhi’s sharply deteriorating air quality very seriously and reprimanded government authorities saying they are not doing enough.

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It has also directed the Narendra Modi government and the states in the National Capital Region (NCR) to implement the orders of the committee on air quality management to curb air pollution while regretting that some sections of the media have “portrayed” it as a “villain” which wants to shut schools in the national capital, News18 reported.

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A special bench of the court headed by Ramana also took note of the measures that the air-quality management commission has taken and asked the central government and state governments like those in Delhi and others in the NCR to abide by those.

In an affidavit, the commission told the bench, which comprises justices DY Chandrachud and Surya Kanta, that a five-member committee enforcement task force has been formed to deal with the air pollution menace in Delhi and NCR.

While 40 such squads would monitor the implementation of measures suggested by the panel to address the problem of pollution, 17 flying squads have been set up to ensure the implementation of various measures that the top court and the committee have mandated, the report said.