The National Green Tribunal Tuesday came down heavily on the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) for failing to act against offenders causing air pollution, saying that it is a scientific body and not a Kindergarten.
A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel said the function of the apex pollution monitoring body is to act against violators and recover compensation for the damage to the environment.
"You have prepared an action plan to curb the air pollution. You say you need time to bring it into force but what about those who are causing pollution in this time period. You are a scientific body and not a Kindergarten," the bench, also comprising Justices S P Wangdi and K Ramakrishnan, observed.
The NGT said that citizens' right to clean air is guaranteed under the Constitution and it cannot be postponed as per CPCB's convenience.
The observation came after CPCB submitted before the bench an action plan, to deal with air pollution in different areas across the country, which enumerated short, medium and long term plans to prevent air pollution.
The green panel said the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act was passed in 1981 and almost 40 years have passed but nothing has changed on ground. "The report submitted by the CPCB is only remedial and not punitive."
The tribunal directed the CPCB to install 1,500 air quality monitoring stations across the country within three months. It also noted that no action has been taken by the states to curb vehicles in those areas where pollution is more.
Concerned over the threat posed to limited natural resources due to their overuse, the tribunal had earlier directed for assessment of carrying capacity of 102 cities, including Delhi, where air quality does not meet the National Ambient Air Quality Standards.
The concept of "carrying capacity" addresses the question as to how many people can be permitted into any area without the risk of degrading the environment there.
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