Above: A stainless steel factory in New Delhi. Photo: Bhavana Gaur

The Supreme Court bench of Justices Madan B Lokur and Deepak Gupta on Monday (November 13) dealing with air pollution due to industries, vehicles and power stations said that it wants to bring long-term measures to curb air pollution and told Centre to apprise it about the efforts it is making so that measures can be implemented.

The amicus submitted to the apex court that while sulphur dioxide was the main source of pollution there is technology in the place for desulphurization.

“On the basis of scientific study these are the facts. Please appoint a specialists’ group,” the amicus submitted.

Centre’s counsel responded: “Switching to another industry is not possible. Because all those industries are doing business for the last 60-70 years. Banning those forever and banishing will not bring any solution as they are complying with the relevant technology to curb the pollutants.”

Petitioner MC Mehta submitted: “Agencies which are part of the problems are also the part of implementation. Polluting trucks don’t come inside the city is also effective to curb pollution. Till comprehensive plan is implemented we should adopt other preventive measures.”

—India Legal Bureau