Pollution: SC refuses urgent hearing of builders' plea

One-liner: The Supreme Court on Monday refused to hear urgently a plea by builders' body seeking vacation of a Nov 24 order by which the ban on construction activities in Delhi and national capital region (NCR) was re-imposed to contain the spike in air pollution.

Decision reversed: Taking note of worsening air quality, the bench headed by Chief Justice N V Ramana had reversed the decision of the executive to allow construction activities from Nov 22 and had re-imposed the ban.

• It, however, had permitted non-polluting activities relating to construction such as plumbing work, interior decoration, electrical work and carpentry
• The plea filed by the Developers and Builders Forum, a body of more than 60 builders, contended that they use the latest construction technology so as to reduce dust pollution and adhere to the laid-down norms

Need to know: On Dec 3, the last date of hearing, the bench told the Centre and the states in the NCR to implement the orders of the Commission for Air Quality Management in the NCR and Adjoining Areas to curb pollution.

• It also sought a proposal to ensure that all industrial units switch over to cleaner fuel in a time-bound manner or face closure

Source: PTI