The tussle between the Centre and the Delhi
government might have ended with the change in guard, but that does not mean
they would be proactive in resolving the air pollution crisis, the Supreme
Court on Thursday said.
A bench of Justice Abhay S Oka and Justice Ujjal
Bhuyan was hearing the issue of air pollution in Delhi in the M C Mehta case.
Senior advocate Aparajita Singh, who is acting as
amicus curiae, submitted she was relieved that Delhi and the Centre wouldn't be
at loggerheads after the BJP was set to from government.
She said half of the time was wasted in fighting and
the issues remain unresolved.
The bench then said in a lighter vein,"That's
the practical aspect of it. They may not be fighting that does not mean they
will be proactive." Additional solicitor general Aishwarya Bhati said
she was optimistic that there would no confrontation.
Bhati sought permission to ease GRAP-IV measures
that are currently enforced in Delhi.
The bench said it would consider the issue on
February 17 and asked the law officer to give an AQI chart.
The bench asked Bhati to seek instructions on the
aspect that the recommendations of the Commission for Air Quality Managements,
constituted under the Environmental Protection Act, could be be implemented in
all cities grappling with air pollution and not just in Delhi.