Taking note of severe air pollution in Delhi-NCR, the Supreme Court has asked NHAI and MCD to consider temporarily closing or relocating nine toll plazas at Delhi's borders to ease traffic congestion and reduce vehicular emissions
Thick layer of smog seen across Delhi on Wednesday. Pic/PTI
Taking a serious note of the severe air pollution levels in Delhi-NCR, the Supreme Court of India on Wednesday issued a slew of directions and asked the NHAI and the MCD to consider either temporarily closing or relocating the nine toll plazas at borders of the national capital, news agency PTI reported. The step has been proposed to ease usual massive traffic congestion.
Describing the pollution crisis as an "annual feature", the apex court called for pragmatic solutions to tackle the menace.
The Supreme Court, 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, PTI reported.
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.
Furthermore, the civic corporation 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, PTI reported.
The bench underscored the need for effective implementation of existing measures rather than merely framing protocols that are not complied with.
During arguments, the Chief Justice asserted, "Let us think of pragmatic and practical solutions to the menace." The CJI further noted that while preventive mechanisms exist, their enforcement has been consistently weak.
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.
Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for the Delhi Government, informed the bench that around 7000 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.
However, the bench cautioned against any leakages in the process, while stating that "it should not be that money transferred to workers' accounts disappears or travels to another account".
The apex court has also asked the Delhi Government to consider providing alternative work to construction workers who are unable to earn due to restrictions imposed to curb pollution.
Moreover, the Supreme Court of India has directed CAQM and NCR governments to examine critical issues such as urban mobility, traffic management, and incentivising farmers to prevent stubble burning, stressing that piecemeal approaches would not resolve the crisis.
(With inputs from PTI)
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