Representative photo

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to hear a plea seeking a slew of directions to curb the menace of pollution including ban on firecrackers across the country and stop selling of new diesel vehicles in National Capital Region (NCR) and other 13 most polluted cities.

A bench of Justices A K Sikri and Ashok Bhushan issued notice and sought Centre’s response on the petition which also sought direction to government to remove import duty on electric cars and hybrid vehicles. The apex court has been examining the pollution crisis in NCR for many decades and had passed slew of directions from time to time to deal with the pollution crisis in NCR region.

The apex court had passed order in October to ban sale of firecracker during Diwali and and it is examining measures to be taken to prevent stubble burning in neighbouring states of Delhi which has emerged as a primary cause for deterioration in air quality in NCR particularly during winter.

As the pollution level is getting aggravated with each passing year, the petitioners, on whose plea firecrackers were banned in Delhi, sought additional direction from the apex court to make air in NCR breathable. They told the bench that all fossil-fuel oriented plants in the country should introduce fuel gas desulfurization and other technique to reduce the discharge of pollutants from the smoke.

“Direct the government to invoke its power under Essential Commodities Act to revise and control the price of diesel for private transport vehicles so that it is on par with petrol and not incentivise for private vehicles owners. Direct the Centre not to impose any import duty on electric and hybrid vehicles or in the alternative substantially reduce the import duty on them,” the petition said.

They have also sought direction to Punjab government to control stubble burning in the state and a special team be constituted by the state to monitor and take action in case of burning of farm waste. As per a report, around 35 million tons of stubble is burnt each year in September and October in Punjab and Haryana. “In the interim period, direct the Meteorological Department and Punjab government to advise farmers on safe windows for burning crops with strict penal action taken against those who transgress,” the petition said.

