"Allowing work from home for central government offices in Delhi will have pan-India ramification": Centre to Supreme Court in Delhi Pollution case
vehicles reduces on streets.
The affidavit states that an emergent meeting of Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas was convened on November 16 and that the Commission has issued a mandatory order to the governments of Delhi, Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan.
The following were the mandatory directions issued by the commission to Delhi and NCR states under Section 12 of Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Act, 2021:
According to the order affixed with the affidavit:
- All industries in NCR with gas connectivity are permitted to run only on gas
- All industries using unapproved fuels be close by the government with immediate effect.
- Industries in NCR where gas connectivity is available shall immediately shift to gas.
Instruction to thermal power plants:
- 5 of the 11 thermal power plants in 300 km radius of Delhi permitted to function and the rest to remain closed at least till November 30.
- Secretary, Ministry of Power to inform should there be any load requirements, and the same to be sourced from power plants located beyond 300 kms from Delhi.
Vehicular pollution/transport:
- Trucks carrying essential commodities shall be permitted, no other trucks permitted till November 21, subject to further review.
- Authorities to ensure that diesel and petrol vehicles of more then 10 and 15 years old are not found plying on the road
- Visibly polluting vehicles and vehicles without PUC to be stopped, checks for PUC maybe carried out in petrol pumps.
- Deploy traffic task to ensure smooth flow of traffic and closely monitor intersections, busy market areas and unauthorised parking lots.
- Delhi government to expeditiously procure and put on road a number of CNG buses at the earliest.
Dust control:
- Stop constriction and demolition activities till November 21 except for public projects like metro,q railways, ISBT and construction for national security.
- Deploy anti-smog guns, water sprinklers (including large scale deployment of fire tenders) and application of dust suppressants at least 3 times a day.
- Augment availability of road sweeping machines and water sprinklers by procuring them immediately.
- Set-up effective enforcements mechanism by deputing senior officers to monitor compliance, impose heavy penal/closure with immediate effect in case of non-compliance.
- Impose heavy penalty on anyone stacking construction material or C&D waste on road
DG sets:
- DG sets are banned in Delhi/NCR, they can however be used for emergency purposes. Electricity supply agencies to ensure uninterrupted power in Delhi-NCR to facilitate effectiveness of this order.
Work from home to ease vehicular pollution:
- NCR governments to allow WFH for at least 50% of their staff in offices at NCR till November 21.
- NCR State governments to encourage work from home for at least 50% of staff working in private establishment till November 21.
General instructions:
- All public and private schools, colleges and educational institutions in NCR to remain shut until further orders
- These directions to be closely monitored by Chief Secretaries of Delhi and NCR States on a regular basis to ensure field level implementation.
During the court of the hearing today, Tushar Mehta, Solicitor General, told the court that November 21 has been taken as a cut-off date because the Meteorological Department has predicted a change in the weather owing to which the pollution may decrease.
A 17-year-old college student Aditya Dubey had in 2020 filed a public interest litigation regarding alarming levels of air pollution in Delhi. The case was listed today in view of an application filed by the petitioners asking the court to pass appropriate orders in the light of excessive levels of air pollution in Delhi at present.
The matter will be next heard on November 24, 2021.
Cause title: Aditya Dubey Vs Union of India