NEW DELHI: As the country faces serious problem of air
pollution, being home to 14 of the 15 most polluted cities in the world, the
National Green Tribunal (
NGT) has passed a series of directions to state authorities to make air breathable and took upon itself the task of dealing with the problem in 102 cities.
Concerned over the threat posed to limited natural resources due to their overuse, the tribunal has directed for assessment of the "carrying capacity" of 102 cities, including Delhi, where
air quality does not meet the national ambient air quality standards. The concept of "carrying capacity" addresses the question as to how many people can be permitted in any area without the risk of degrading the environment. It passed orders to prohibit dust generating activities and determine number of vehicles to be allowed to ply in those cities.
Former SC judge AK Goel, who took over as NGT chairman in July last year, took a decision not to grant unnecessary adjournments and decided to treat emails from public as petitions.