High Court: Living in Delhi is Like Living in a Gas Chamber

India is considered one of the most polluted countries around the world. A research conducted earlier on the pollution level of the country compelled the high court of India to take instant actions against it, which dangerously harms the health of the nation.

According to Economic Times, the Delhi High Court today compelled the Centre and city government to present comprehensive action plans against rising pollution level. It has reached to its "alarming" proportions and started to feel like "living in a gas chamber".

The actions plan filed by the environment ministry and Delhi government were labeled as "not comprehensive" by the bench of justices Badar Durrez Ahmed and Sanjeev Sachdeva. According to them, the specific responsibilities of each authority and the timeline for carrying out the plans were not included.

The environment ministry was directed to file comprehensive action plans by the next date of hearing on December 21, which is the need of the hour.

During today's hearing, the Delhi court "expressed displeasure over unchecked rising pollution in Delhi". The court asked, "The level of PM 2.5 has crossed the level of 60, then why hasn't the government done anything to curb it?" The smallest and the deadliest pollutant is the particulate matter with size less than or equal to 2.5 microns, as reported by NDTV.

The high court considered the problem after the National Green Tribunal commented over Delhi government for not taking rising pollution problem "seriously". Other than that The NGT also demanded a list of the most polluted areas in the city with a within by the Delhi government.

PM 2.5 was found to be the major pollutant in 7 seven out of 10 monitoring stations of the Central Pollution Control Board across Delhi. The court was referring to the permissible limit for PM 2.5, which is 60 micro grams per cubic metre. The court also demanded the reason for not taking any action against burning of garbage.

As mentioned by The Indian Express, the court ordered the traffic police by taking actions against traffic jamming by implementing laws to ensure people not change lanes and cross the yellow line to the other side for overtaking. "Don't allow them to do that," said the court. "As a first measure, you announce on TV and radio that there will be zero tolerance for shifting lanes and crossing the yellow lines. Issue challans."

Moreover, the Delhi government was also directed to formulate a policy against bursting of firecrackers during the coming wedding season and festival season. The court asked the government to "try to dissuade people from excessive use of firecrackers, through electronic and print media as it is for the safety of the citizens themselves."

Earlier this year, the bench the issue of city air pollution was taken as a suo motu PIL. But now, the matter is suspended till December 21.