Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar however told the bench that the implementing agencies were to be blamed for the lax enforcement of the prevailing policy to curb pollution
The apex court pulled up the country's top pollution control board and criticised it when the Centre failed to present a plan that could be implemented once pollution levels cross the safety mark.
"Did it not occur to you to that Delhi is dying? Are you waiting for people to start dying in Delhi before you decide to do something," a bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) TS Thakur questioned the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) on Thursday.
Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar, representing the Centre, however told the bench that the implementing agencies were to be blamed for the lax enforcement of the prevailing policy to curb pollution.
The court, that had taken suo-motu cognisance of the smog that blanketed the national capital post Diwali, had on Tuesday asked the Centre to come up with a common minimum graded response plan.
A bench comprising CJI Thakur, Justices A K Sikri and S A Bobde took stock of the situation by understanding what were the major contributors causes pollution in the capital and how one could tackle it. It quizzed CPCB Chairman SP Parihar on how the agency monitored pollution and what steps it took to control the situation once levels passed the safety mark.
Parihar outlined the existing policies available and informed the apex court that presently, Delhi had only three stations to monitor pollution levels and many more were required to have a more comprehensive reading across the NCR region. "We need at least 113 stations across the country to monitor pollution levels," Parihar said.
The court then observed that three stations were insufficient and ordered the Board to set up more machines in different parts of the city. It also suggested the set up of a centralised control room to keep a watch on level of pollution.
The court has ordered the Centre to get together with all stakeholders for a meeting to come up with a plan. The results of the meeting scheduled for November 19, will then be relayed to the apex court on November 25.
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