Air pollution: SC asks Centre to ban use of petro coke, furnace oil

02 December, New Delhi

The Supreme Court Friday directed the Central Government to ascertain the harmful effects of petro coke and furnace oil after hearing from petitioners, including noted environmentalist Sunita Narayan, in connection with the alarming level of pollution in Delhi-NCR.

A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India Tirath Singh Thakur, asked the Government to ban use of petro coke and furnace oil in Delhi-NCR, if ill affects are true. Pollution Code has measures such as introduction of odd-even scheme, consider shutting schools, etc if pollution level is very severe.

The apex court also approved a Pollution Code for Delhi-NCR. “Asks the Centre to notify it,” the Court said. Code has graded response to tackle air pollution. Code classified into four categories — moderate to poor, very poor, severe, very severe or emergency. The apex court also accepted the submissions made by the all parties — the Centre, Ms Narayan and others — and asked the Centre to notify it.

Now the Supreme Court will hear the matter in the third week of January, 2017. The Supreme Court on November 18 had directed framing and submission of graded response action plan for various categories of National Air Quality Index (AQI).