Plea in NGT against Amit Shah’s 1-lakh bike rally

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Friday issued notices to Centre and the state government of Haryana, seeking their response on a plea that raised concerns on pollution during BJP president Amit Shah’s rally in Jind that will see participation of nearly 1 lakh motorbikes. A bench headed by Justice SP Wangdi issued notices to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Haryana government, state pollution control board and the Central Pollution Control Board, seeking replies by February 13. The rally is planned on February 15.

The NGT sought replies while hearing a plea filed by advocate Victor Dhissa. Dhissa said in his plea that Delhi-NCR has been facing serious air pollution and in view of this, there should be a review of the impact of the motorbike rally.

“State Government or the Haryana State Pollution Control Board should undertake a screening of the bikes proposed to be brought out on the roads during the rally as to the quantum of pollution being caused by each motorbike,” the petition said.

The petition prayed to direct the respondents to either reduce the number of motorbikes proposed to mobilize people or use more environment friendly modes and methods, such as bicycles, bring them on foot or in electric vehicles. The plea also said a panel could assess the impact of the rally on air and noise pollution.

POLLUTION CONCERN

NGT issued notices to the Centre and the Haryana government. The petition stated that since Delhi-NCR was facing serious air pollution, there should be a review of the impact of the motorbike rally.