Delhi 'worst city' in terms of pollution, says HC; NGT stays ban on old diesel vehicles

The pollution levels were already high before Diwali and they surged to a massive level post the festival.

Zee Media Bureau

New Delhi: The Delhi high court on Thursday pulled up the Arvind Kejriwal government and other agencies over the prevailing pollution in the city and ranked it as the worst in the country in terms of air pollution.

The air pollution levels were already high before Diwali and they surged to a massive level post the festival, leaving all the Delhiites in a chaotic situation.

Meanwhile, National Green Tribunal (NGT) which had earlier launched a probe into Delhi's air pollution problem has kept it's ban on all the 10-year-old diesel vehicles and 15-year-old petrol vehicles in the capital city as such.

Additionally, it has also directed Centre, Delhi government and neighbouring states - Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan and Haryana - to form centralised state level monitoring committees to access the rise in pollution level.

In order to curb pollution, the NGT has also directed temporary shutdown of all thermal power plants and closure of all ongoing construction activities.