In the wake of the continuing poor air quality in Delhi, the Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to consider temporary suspension of toll collection at nine toll plazas in the national capital's entry points.
Taking a serious note of the severe air pollution levels in Delhi-NCR, the Supreme Court on Wednesday issued a slew of directions and asked the NHAI and the MCD to consider either temporary closing or relocating the nine toll plazas at borders of the national capital to ease usual massive traffic congestion.
The top court described the pollution crisis as an "annual feature" and called for pragmatic and practical solutions to tackle the menace.The bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice Vipul M Pancholi passed the order after it was informed that vehicles were being stuck for hours on the borders which was contributing to air pollution.
"MCD is directed to cooperate on the issue and to consider suspending operations at these nine toll plazas for a temporary period. A decision in this regard shall be taken within one week and placed on record," the Court ordered.The Court also asked the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to examine the possibility of shifting the nine toll collection booths operated by the MCD in Delhi to locations that can be manned by the NHAI."A portion of the toll collected at such sites can then be diverted to the MCD to compensate for the perceived loss arising from the temporary suspension," it suggested.
The directions were passed on an application moved by the NHAI alleging congestion at the borders due to the toll collection by MCD. It was stated that such traffic jams were adding to the air pollution in Delhi.During the consideration of the plea, CJI Kant remarked that people avoid attending marriage functions due to traffic snarls.It, however, refused to interfere with the Delhi government's decision to close schools for students from nursery to Class 5, holding that no further tinkering was required as the winter break was already approaching.
In an effort to ease vehicular congestion at Delhi's borders, a bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant asked the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to consider shifting or temporarily closing nine toll plazas located at entry points to the capital.The MCD was specifically directed to take a decision within one week on whether these toll plazas could be shut temporarily to facilitate smoother traffic flow and reduce vehicular emissions.The bench underscored the need for effective implementation of existing measures rather than merely framing protocols that remain not complied with.
Taking note of the impact of pollution-related restrictions on livelihood, the bench directed the Delhi government to urgently verify construction workers rendered idle due to curbs and ensure that financial assistance is directly transferred to their bank accounts.
Accordingly, the Court directed the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to revisit its plan in respect of urban mobility, cleaner industry and energy, stubble burning and modes and manner of incentivizing the farmers to stop stubble burning and use of residue for other purposes,regulation of construction activities and provision of alternative employment when construction works are halted, solution to pollution generated from household activity and preventive measures besides increase of green cover in Delhi.
Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for the Delhi government, informed the bench that around 7,000 workers have so far been verified out of nearly 2.5 lakh registered construction workers, and assured that money would be transferred to their accounts directly. The bench has now listed the PIL filed by environmentalist M C Mehta for further direction on January 6 and reiterated that this plea has to be heard at least twice in a month around the year.
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