Deteriorating AQI | Take Immediate Remedial Action, Submit Action Taken Report: NGT To State Chief Secretaries

Raising concern over deteriorating Air Quality Index (AQI), the principal bench of National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Chief Secretaries of the States where the Index has dipped to severe, very poor and poor, to take immediate remedial action and submit an action taken report.

Chairperson Prakash Shrivastava, Justice Sudhir Agarwal and Dr. A. Senthil Vel took suo moto cognizance of the AQI on the basis of the Air Quality Bulletins of CPCB posted on their website in respect of AQI for different cities from October 20 to November 01, 2023.

The bench noted the air quality index of November 01 discloses that in Hanumangarh, Fatehabad, Hisar, the air quality has dipped to the “severe” level, in respect of Bahadurgarh, Biwani, Charkhi Dadri, Faridabad, Greater Noida, Kaithal, Noida, Rohtak and Sri Ganganagar apart from Delhi, the air quality was at “very poor” level and in respect of Amritsar, Ankleshwar, Baddi, Balllabgarh, Bathinda, Bharatpur, Bhiwadi, Bhopal, Bikaner, Bulandshahr, Bundi, Byrnihat, Churu, Dausa, Dhandbad, Dharuhera, Ghaziabad, Gurugram Gwalior, Jhansi, Jhunjhunu, Karnal, Khurja, Kota, Kurukshetra, Lucknow, Ludhiana, Mandi Gobindgarh, Manesar, Narnaul, Navi Mumbai, Panipat, Patna, Purnia, Rajgir, Sirsa, Sonipat, Thane, Tonk and Vapi , the air quality has dipped to “poor” level.

The NGT highlighted that a serious condition is reflected in various cities in Air Quality Bulletins. Hence, immediate action is required for prevention and control of the air pollution in these cities so as to ensure better air quality to the residents.

It recalled the earlier directions given in the case registered on the basis of the news item published in Times of India relating to clean air in 102 cities in 2021.

While issuing the notice, the bench impleaded Chief Secretaries of the concerned States, Chairman, Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), Member Secretary, CPCB, National Task Force through its head Secretary, MoEF&CC.

It also directed the respondents to take remedial action and submit an action taken report reflecting compliance of directions issued by the Tribunal from time to time in this regard.

The matter is now listed for November 11, for further consideration.

Title: In re: Air Quality Index in various Cities