New Delhi:
Delhi air pollution has increased despite government claims, the Supreme Court said today, expressing dissatisfaction with the measures taken over the last few weeks. “We feel that nothing is happening and pollution keeps increasing… only time being wasted,” Chief Justice NV Ramana said during the hearing – this is the fourth straight week that the court heard arguments over the air crisis in the national capital and nearby cities.
Warning of strict action, the court gave the center and Delhi 24 hours to act against industrial and vehicular pollution.
Chiding the Arvind Kejriwal government over the reopening of the schools, the top court said that “three-year-olds and four-year-olds are going to schools but adults are working from home”. Lawyer Abhishek Manu Singhvi – representing the Delhi government – responded: “On schools, there is a lot of debate on ‘learning loss’. We reopened with the condition including the option for online.”
“You are saying you left it optional. But who wants to sit at home? We also have children and grandchildren. We know the problems they have been facing since the pandemic. If you don’t take action we will take strict action tomorrow. We are giving you 24 hours,” the Chief Justice said in sharp response.
