Order of the National Green Tribunal regarding air quality in some of the cities of India, 10/11/2023
Order of the National Green Tribunal regarding air quality index in various cities of India dated 10/11/2023.
The court noted that there has been no significant improvement in the air quality in the different cities and in fact in some of the cities, the air quality is either at the same stage or has dipped further. After going through state wise air quality position of different cities under consideration with reference to air quality index (AQI) from November 3, 2023 till November 9, 2023 said that the concerned authorities have failed in making the desired efforts which could bring about improvements in the air quality.
The NGT said that in these reports mostly long-term action plans for controlling the air pollution have been mentioned, but the NGT had also directed "immediate remedial action" which has not been complied with.
The NGT, November 10 directed the concerned state authorities and the Chief Secretaries to review their approach and come up with adequate measures so that the air quality in the concerned cities improves. The court directed all the "Chief Secretaries of the states where cities’ AQI has dipped or continued to be severe, very poor and poor, to take all possible immediate remedial measures and ensure that the air quality improves in those cities". The next hearing of the case will be on November 22, 2023.