Bombay High Court takes suo motu cognizance of deteriorating air quality in Mumbai

The Bombay High Court Tuesday took suo motu cognizance of the concerns arising from the degrading air quality and rising air pollution in Mumbai and its suburbs. .A division bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Arif Doctor referred to several newspaper reports indicating a sharp downward spiral in the Air Quality Index (AQI) in the metro.“We are taking suo motu cognisance of the AQI. Every day AQI is deteriorating in every area. Not a single area is remaining in Mumbai. We will issue notice and seek reply and then we will look at other Municipal corporations,” the Court said..It, therefore, sought responses from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) and Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) on the steps taken by them to tackle the issue. .The court also appointed Senior Advocate Darius Khambata as the amicus curiae in the case..The Court was hearing a public interest litigation filed by three Mumbai residents Amar Tike, Anand Jha and Sanjay Surve, who sought directions to Maharashtra government and BMC to curb air pollution in the city. The petitioner said that authorities shiuld take immediate steps to enhance green cover through plantation of fast growing trees in public places.The PIL also sought an enquiry into the working of Garden and Trees Department of BMC over the last 10 years including the details of budget allocation and utilisation..The court noted from the media reports referred to in the PIL that BMC had taken steps to mitigate the air pollution in Mumbai. However, the same did not seem to have improved the AQI levels."Further we must note and what is crucial is that no steps have been taken to create/issue the necessary health advisories as also to raise awareness amognst the citizens so as to best safeguard themselves from deleterious levels of AQI presently prevailing in Mumbai. This factor needs immediate attention", the court recorded in its order. .The division bench posted both matters for hearing on November 6. .[Read order]