Key Points:
- Air Quality Crisis in Mumbai: Vehicular emissions identified as a key contributor to the city’s deteriorating Air Quality Index (AQI).
- High Court’s Directive: The Bombay High Court has instructed the Maharashtra government to form a committee to assess the feasibility of phasing out diesel and petrol vehicles in favor of CNG and electric vehicles.
- Expert Committee Timeline: The committee, comprising experts and civil administrators, must be formed within two weeks and submit its report within three months.
- Crackdown on Polluting Bakeries: The court directed bakeries using wood and coal to transition to green fuels like gas within six months, tightening the existing one-year deadline.
- Next Hearing: The High Court scheduled the next review of the case for February 13, stressing the urgency of immediate action.
Mumbai: The Bombay High Court has taken proactive steps to combat Mumbai’s worsening air pollution, holding vehicular emissions as a major culprit. In a suo motu Public Interest Litigation (PIL), the court directed the Maharashtra government to explore the feasibility of replacing diesel and petrol vehicles with cleaner alternatives like CNG and electric vehicles (EVs).
The decision follows alarming AQI levels and growing public concern over Mumbai’s deteriorating air quality.
Formation of Expert Committee
A division bench comprising Chief Justice DK Upadhyay and Justice Girish Kulkarni instructed the Maharashtra government to establish an expert committee within two weeks.
- Committee Composition: Experts, environmentalists, and civil administrators.
- Mandate: To evaluate the practicality and impact of gradually phasing out diesel and petrol vehicles.
- Timeline: The committee must submit its findings within three months.
Addressing Traffic Congestion and Air Quality
The High Court highlighted the alarming vehicle density on Mumbai’s roads as a significant contributor to pollution.
“The roads of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region are clogged with vehicles, and the density of vehicles is alarming. All measures taken so far to reduce air pollution have proven inadequate,” the bench observed.
Crackdown on Polluting Bakeries
In addition to vehicular emissions, the court also addressed air pollution caused by bakery units operating on wood and coal.
- BMC and MPCB Directive: The court ordered the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) to ensure that bakeries switch to gas or green fuels within six months instead of the one-year timeline previously set.
- Focus on Public Health: The court emphasized the need for immediate action to limit hazardous particle emissions.
What’s Next?
The court has scheduled the next hearing for February 13, urging authorities to implement effective and timely measures.
The Bombay High Court’s directive to consider phasing out diesel and petrol vehicles marks a significant step toward addressing Mumbai’s air quality crisis. With a focus on transitioning to CNG and electric vehicles, along with stringent measures against polluting bakeries, the court’s intervention underscores the urgency of tackling urban pollution. As the city awaits the committee’s recommendations, this move could pave the way for a greener and healthier Mumbai.
