New Delhi, Aug 14: Alarmed by a report indicating high vehicular pollution levels in the cities of Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Lucknow, Kanpur and Solapur, the Supreme Court today directed the Union government to frame within two months in consultation with the states `action plans` to reduce the pollution levels there. A three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice V N Khare, Justice Y K Sabharwal and Justice Arijit Pasayat passed this order after amicus curiae Harish Salve pointed out high level of respiratory suspended particulate matter (RSPM) in these cities from a Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) report.

"Alarming I should say," the Chief Justice remarked after perusing the CPCB report and directed the Union government and the states of Gujarat, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra to frame the plans within two months and submit them for scrutiny before Environment Protection Authority (EPA) headed by Bhurelal. The bench said it was not taking up the pollution levels in the two metros - Mumbai and Kolkata - as the high courts there were already monitoring the related issues.

Salve pointed out that all the major states had promised to the apex court on having an action plan for switching over to cleaner fuels in major cities, but the deadlines set by them for that purpose had not been honoured.
Bureau Report