This Article is From Dec 11, 2015

Delhi Pollution 'Embarrassing' Says Supreme Court, Slams 'Lack of Policy'

"If you expect us to provide solution to every problem, it is not possible," the Supreme Court said.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court today made strong remarks on the alarming pollution levels in Delhi and called for a multi-pronged approach to counter what it said was an 'embarrassing' situation.

With the country's capital found to be the world's most polluted city by the World Health Organisation, it is a reflection on the government's ability to tackle pollution, Chief Justice TS Thakur

"All the concerned parties must sit together to solve pollution in Dehi. Come out with short, medium and long term solutions," the Supreme Court said.

"Delhi has earned a bad name that it is the most polluted city. Last week a Judge came from International Court of Justice to Delhi. It is very embarrassing for us to tell him that this is the level of pollution in Delhi," the Court observed.

Justice Thakur also asked, "Why there was no discussion taking place, no forum is provided to deal with this problem."

"There are different committees and they must sit together. Let there be a common minimum programme to solve Delhi pollution," he said.

"If you expect us to provide solution to every problem, it is not possible," the Chief Justice said.

The observations came during the hearing of a plea filed by highway toll operators who had said that they were not in a position to collect the 'Green Cess' - a new tax announced in October - from trucks entering the city. The Supreme Court will take up the case on December 15.

Pulled up by the High Court earlier this month, the Delhi government had said it will try out a string of measures including a plan to allow cars with odd and even registration numbers on alternate days from January 1 to bring down dangerous levels of pollution in the air.
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