Prosecute government officials for failing to respond to complaints about air pollution: SC at CPCB

In Delhi, the Supreme Court on Monday asked the Central Pollution Control Commission (CPCB) to sue government officials for failing to respond to about 250 complaints. deposited by citizens.

The court said that one day when the control stations of the national capital had recorded air quality in the category "very poor".

A bench of judges Madan B Lokur and Deepak Gupta stated that those responsible who did not respond to the complaints were required to be prosecuted.

"Why do not you prosecute these officials? You should pursue them. Let these people realize what they did, "the court told ANS Nadkarni, the Deputy Attorney General, who appeared for the CPCB.

Nadkarni stated that from 1 to 22 November this year, the CPCB had received 749 air pollution complaints on their social networks. reports and actions have been taken on approximately 500 such complaints.

regarding the court's suggestion to prosecute those responsible for not having Responding to complaints

On November 1, the CPCB told the Supreme Court that it had created social networking accounts on Twitter and Facebook, where citizens could file their pollution complaints in the region from Delhi-National Capital (NCR). .

In an affidavit filed in court, seized with pollution-related issues at Delhi-NCR, the CPCB stated that "749 complaints received on social networks and by e-mail until November 22, 2018, 52 CPCB teams attended about 500 complaints (67% of the total), while they badociated with a campaign for air quality from 1st to 10th November 2018. "[19659013] The teams also continued "a similar campaign on its own, November 13 and 20, exclusively to attend air pollution complaints received on social media and e-mails. The remaining 249 complaints were badigned to the respective nodal agencies and are being resolved. "

The affidavit says from the badysis of complaints during the air cleansing campaign, the largest number of pollution incidents related to construction and demolition activities, followed by the combustion of waste, road dust, unpaved areas / roads, traffic jams and industrial emissions.

Continuing with the opening of social media accounts on October 29, the affidavit said the CPCB had set up a separate cell for management.From November 5, Facebook, Twitter, emails and the CPCB website received citizen complaints filed on social media

"Complaints received on social media accounts, namely Twitter and Facebook, must be resolved by respective nodal agencies responsible

" An effective mechanism for resolving complaints by through the media The respective nodal agencies can open their official social media accounts and follow the account created by the CPCB so that complaints received at the end of the CPCB can be forwarded to the respective agencies. The measures taken by the agencies can be informed of the complainant on the same platform, "says the affidavit.

On October 31, an email was sent to the nodal agencies to create their own media accounts The CPCB also held four review meetings in November with the representatives of the nodal agencies.

On November 24, 18 nodal agencies had provided their social media accounts to CPCB which included the Pollution Control Committee of the State of Haryana, the National Highway Authority, the Delhi Traffic Police, the Delhi Transport Department, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, the Delhi Development Authority, the Gurgaon Municipal Corporation, the Pollution Control Board of Uttar Pradesh and the Three Municipal Corporations of Delhi.

It stated that "between November 1, 2018 and November 22, 2018, the CPCB received 74 9 air pollution complaints posted on social media and websites, accounting for Nts 479 complaints from Twitter accounts, 65 from Facebook and 205 from emails / websites.

The CPCB stated that in order to give priority to actions relating to complaints received via social media, the Council began to deal with complaints through it.

The affidavit indicates that the CPCB acknowledged receipt of complaints and provided information on the measures taken to the complainants through social media and by email.

"CPCB inspection teams took ad hoc measures, such as extinguishing fire by calling fire contractors, recovering building materials, instructions to those responsible, issuing challans, etc. during the campaign. Some complaints have also been lodged on Sameer App for nodal agencies to take the necessary measures, "he added.

Sameer App provides an hourly update of the national index

The CPCB also stated that, on the basis of comments received from the campaign for clean air, the Chairman of the Board of Directors had issued guidelines on the quality of air quality. under the 1986 Environment (Protection) Act to various nodal agencies, including Delhi-NCR local authorities, responsible for the control of air pollution incidents.

were also sent to nodal intention to institute criminal proceedings under section 15 of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 in the event of inaction in the control of air pollution incidents ", he declared.