Supreme Court permits Delhi govt to continue construction activities of hospitals

Supreme Court permits the Delhi government to continue with construction activities of hospitals.

New Delhi: Supreme Court on Friday (December 3, 2021) permitted the Delhi government to continue with construction activities of hospitals. The apex court also set the next date of hearing, which is December 10. 

Delhi-NCR air pollution | Supreme Court permits Delhi government to continue with construction activities of hospitals, next date of hearing December 10 pic.twitter.com/bNAXlNeWOC

— ANI (@ANI) December 3, 2021

Earlier, the Delhi government had requested the top court to allow construction work of the hospitals in the city, adding that work is being carried out in 19 government hospitals to provide better health infrastructure in the national capital for the benefit of patients. Today, the apex court accepted the Delhi government's request, allowing it to continue with the construction activities of hospitals.

The commission for Air Quality Management in Delhi-NCR also informed the apex court that the industrial operations in NCR not running on CNG/cleaner fuels allowed to operate only up to 8 hrs from Monday to Friday only. Additionally, entry of trucks in Delhi except CNG/electric trucks and trucks carrying essential commodities has been stopped.

Industrial operations in NCR not running on CNG/cleaner fuels allowed to operate only up to 8 hrs from Mon-Fri only; Stop entry of trucks in Delhi except CNG/electric trucks and trucks carrying essential commodities: Commission for Air Quality Management in Delhi-NCR

— ANI (@ANI) December 3, 2021

The Commission`s decision to allow industries to work only eight hours will affect the sugarcane industry, Kumar said. He added that Uttar Pradesh is in the downward wind and the air is mostly coming from Pakistan.

The Bench allowed Uttar Pradesh to raise its grievances before the Commission. Commission for Air Quality Management in Delhi-NCR filed the affidavit before the apex court apprising about the measures taken by it on December 2, saying it has constituted an enforcement task force to monitor compliance with its directions to control air pollution.

The Commission said an Enforcement Task Force of five members has been constituted by the commission in the exercise of its statutory power and 17 flying squads are constituted to act against violators. The number of flying squads would be increased to 40 in the next 24 hours, Commission in its affidavit told the Bench.

Meanwhile, the air quality in the national capital has not budged from the `very poor` category for a while now. On Friday (December 3, 2021), the Air Quality Index (AQI) of Delhi (overall) stood at 385, according to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR).