The apex court, however, has asked all states to consider banning the use of pet coke and furnace oil in industries as well
The Supreme Court on Friday upheld its previous order banning the use of furnace oil and pet coke in three states — Rajasthan, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.
The apex court, however, has asked all states to consider banning the use of pet coke and furnace oil in industries as well.
"We may note that pollution caused by pet coke and furnace oil is not a problem confined only to the NCR region, but appears to be a problem faced by almost all states and Union Territories in the country," the bench of Justices Madan Lokur and Deepak Gupta said.
The observation came on the heels of an appeal filed by industries seeking a relaxation in the top court's October 24 order where it had banned the use of these fuels in the three states.
Supporting the move, Centre submitted it had already issued a direction banning the use of pet coke and furnace oil. Additional Solicitor General Atmaram Nadkarni submitted an affidavit pertaining to a decision taken by the Environment Ministry, issuing a direction on this matter.
The direction is to the effect that there will be a prohibition on the use of pet coke and furnace oil by any industry, operation or processes within the States of U.P., Haryana and Rajasthan with immediate effect until further orders.
The ASG further clarified that this notice was implementable for the entire state and not merely the NCR region.
However, senior advocate Harish Salve, who is appearing as the Amicus Curiae in this matter, submitted that a prohibition on the use of pet coke and furnace oil would solve only a part of the problem. A direction should also be issued to the effect there is a ban on the sale of pet coke and furnace oil in all these three States for being used as fuel.
In pursuant to tackling issues causing pollution, Salve sought directions on a range of matters. Salve suggested the collection of a compensatory sum on petrol and diesel in NCR to be used for measures to deal with pollution in the
NCR region. He added that the money that is collected could then be used by the Centre to procure the requisite agricultural equipment for the farmers of Punjab and Haryana.
Salve also suggested issuing a direction to the Petroleum Ministry to examine the feasibility of existing technologies and present a workable scheme on the use and disposal of the crop stubble.
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