NGT asks several states to make 'further efforts', 'fully utilise' funds to improve air quality
NGT) has directed several states to make «further efforts» to improve the air quality and «fully utilise» the funds received under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) and the 15th Finance Commission. The tribunal, the order passed on December 5, also instructed the states concerned to file a further action taken report within eight weeks.
A bench of NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava noted the deteriorating air quality across various cities from November 22 to December 4 in Bihar (Patna, Purnia and Rajgir), Uttar Pradesh( Ghaziabad, Noida and Greater Noida), Punjab (Bhatinda) Haryana (Faridabad, Manesar, Rohtak and Bhiwadi), Rajasthan (Tonk) and Meghalaya (Byrnihat).
The bench, also comprising judicial member Justice Sudhir Agarwal and expert member A Senthil Vel, noted that the AQI was 'severe' and 'very poor' in some cities, while in others it fluctuated between 'moderate' to 'severe' and 'poor' to 'very poor'.
The AQI in Delhi was 'severe' on November 24, while on most days it was 'very poor'. The cities in Punjab, however, showed an improvement after the stubble burning season ended, the bench said.
Last month, the NGT took cognisance of the online air quality bulletins of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and directed the chief secretaries of the states where the AQI had dipped or was in the 'severe', 'very poor' and 'poor' categories to «take all possible immediate remedial measures».
Noting the reports filed by several state authorities, the tribunal, in its hearing on on December 5, said most of the states did not «fully utilise» the funds received under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) and the 15th Finance Commission.
