Mumbai High Court Requests Reaction From Authorities After Suo Motu Noting “Deteriorating” Air Quality In Mumbai
On Tuesday, the Bombay High Court took suo motu (on its own) cognizance of the matter and voiced worry about Mumbai’s “deteriorating” air quality index (AQI).
The Central and Maharashtra governments, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), and Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) were contacted by a division bench led by Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Arif Doctor on the subject.
A public interest lawsuit (PIL) concerning Mumbai’s bad air quality was being heard by the court on behalf of three city residents.
“The air quality index in the city every day is deteriorating like anything…everywhere… not a single area in Mumbai the air quality is better,” stated Chief Justice Upadhyaya.
The court said that it wants the relevant authorities to provide information on the actions they have taken and the actions they are required to do by law.
On November 6, the court scheduled a hearing on the subject.
In their Public Interest Litigation (PIL), Amar Baban Tike, Anand Jha, and Sanjay Surve asked the government and local authorities to take immediate action to improve green space by planting fast-growing trees and other plants in public areas of the city and to reduce pollution.
The appeal claimed that Mumbai’s high level of air pollution was negatively harming the city’s citizens, particularly children, and was being caused by the city’s careless building activities and lack of enough green space.
