Guj HC seeks action plan for phasing out old diesel vehicles

Not satisfied with the Gujarat government's reply to a PIL seeking ban on diesel-run vehicles to curb pollution, the High Court today asked it to spell out a time-bound action plan.
The government, in its affidavit, only expressed its intention to phase out the old diesel vehicles and ban the entry of such vehicles in the city.
But the division bench of Chief Justice R Subhash Reddy and Justice Anant Dave asked the government to come up with a time-bound action plan and adjourned the hearing to April 22.
The government today informed in its affidavit that some 40 per cent diesel-run vehicles in the state are very old and are, to some extent, responsible for pollution.

There was a plan to phase out such vehicles and ban their entry in the city, it said.
The petition, by environmental activist Devjibhai Dhamecha, advocates conversion of diesel vehicles to CNG vehicles. The government said that CNG refilling stations are gradually coming up in various parts of Gujarat, including remote areas.

The PIL points out that despite the past orders of the High Court, the government is still using diesel-run buses.
Taking "judicial note" of construction sites being not cleared of rubble and debris after completion of work, the court directed the municipal corporations, DDA and Public Works Department (PWD) to take "emergent steps" to minimise air pollution.

It directed the authorities to ensure that "each site is kept debri free" and that there is proper cleaning up of dust and construction rubble.
"If this is done, the particulate matter which comprises construction debri and road dust shall be reduced and we would see an improvement in air quality," the court said and listed the matter for hearing on November 25.
The bench also suggested that the government should take up the responsibility of setting off fireworks during festivals, like Diwali, as is done in other countries like the US on July 4 every year.
"I wonder why the government does not take over setting off of fireworks. There can be designated places where people can go and watch fireworks, like in USA on July 4 every year. There fireworks are genuine, not these spurious Chinese variety," it said.

The court, meanwhile, directed the National Capital Region Planning Board to have a meeting in next three weeks on the issue of air pollution and to file a status report on what was decided in the meeting.
"Frankly speaking, this is not our job. It is yours (government and authorities). Why are you not doing anything? Each one of you. Think about the children growing up today. We are surviving because we grew up in a much cleaner environment," the bench said after the amicus said the "buck stops" with the court and it has to issue directions to ensure reduction in air pollution.

The court was hearing a PIL initiated by it on the issue of alarming levels of air pollution in the national capital.
On November 10, the court had said the alarming pollution level is literally 'capital punishment' for Delhiites who are being robbed of three years of their lives due to it.
It had held the government's inaction and stubble burning in Punjab as being responsible for the situation here.
The court had said that the grave situation was leading to the "decimation" of more than 60 million life years or one million deaths, which it termed as "genocide".