New Delhi, Oct 21 (PTI) The National Green Tribunal has sought a response from the Delhi Pollution Control Committee and other authorities in a matter regarding the heavy metal pollution in east Delhi’s air.
The green body was hearing a matter in which it had taken suo motu (on its own) cognisance of a newspaper report on a study by IIT-Delhi detecting “alarming levels of heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, and nickel in the air in east Delhi”, which could cause respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
In its order on October 16, a bench of NGT Chairperson Prakash Shrivastava noted that according to the study, the highest heavy metal exposure index (HEI) was found in Ludhiana (21.78), followed by east Delhi (21.45) and Panchkula (10.74).
The bench, also comprising judicial member Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi and expert member A Senthil Vel said, “The news item highlights that the primary sources of these pollutants include industrial emissions, vehicular exhaust, and construction activities.” It said that the report raised substantial issues relating to compliance with provisions of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act and Environment (Protection) Act.
The tribunal impleaded as parties or respondents the member secretaries of the DPCC, Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) and Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), district magistrates of east Delhi and Ludhiana and the Jaipur regional office of the Union Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change.
“Let notice be issued to the respondents for filing their response by way of affidavit before the tribunal at least one week before the next date of the hearing (on February 6),” the tribunal said. PTI MNR RPA
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