State Needs To Review Management Of Transport Corporations To Control Air Pollution From State-Owned Buses: Madras High Court

Justice R Suresh Kumar and Justice G Arul Murugan suggested that the existing old vehicles could be replaced by new eco-friendly vehicles depending upon the financial status of the corporations.

“We feel that a complete review to be taken by the Management of the respective Transport Corporations and atleast in a phased manner, the existing old vehicles can be replaced by new vehicles especially the Eco-friendly vehicles like battery run vehicles and that kind of measures can be taken in a phased manner depending upon the financial status of those Transport Corporations,” the court observed.

The court was hearing petitions to set up flying squads at the Taluk Level, District level, and state level in Tamil Nadu and to impose a heavy fine on vehicles emitting huge black and white Carbon Monoxide from the nozzle. Another plea also sought to ensure proper maintenance of the engine of Government buses in Madurai to prevent excess usage of fuel and emission of unwanted gases and particular matters from the exhaust.

The petitioners argued that such emissions would cause health hazards to several lakhs of people every day. Though they had given representations, no action had been taken which prompted the petitioners to approach the high court.

The court noted that though some steps had been taken to control air pollution, it was necessary to have a complete review had to be taken. The court thus directed the authorities to give a detailed reply to the representation of the petitioners as to what action has been taken or proposed to be taken.

The court directed the authorities to continue the exercise within a period of eight weeks after considering the representations.

Counsel for the Petitioner: Mr.K.K.Ramesh Party-in-Person

Counsel for the Respondent: Mr.K.Asok Kumar Ram, Mr.P.Thilak Kumar Government Pleader, Ms.Vijayakumari Natarajan, Mr.S.S.Madhavan Government Advocate

Citation: 2024 LiveLaw (Mad) 208

Case Title: KK Ramesh v Union of Indians and Others

Case No: W.P(MD)Nos.19890 of 2017 & 4533 of 2018