New Delhi, December 10

The Supreme Court on Friday took note of “slight” improvement in air pollution level in Delhi-NCR and permitted the commission on air quality management to take a decision on various representations seeking easing of curbs, like ban on construction activities, within a week.

Mulling measures

Several long-term measures are in contemplation to deal with the issue of air pollution. Tushar Mehta, Solicitor General

A special Bench comprising Chief Justice NV Ramana and Justices DY Chandrachud and Surya Kant asked Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan to comply with its earlier order by which it had asked the National Capital Region states to pay minimum wages to construction workers from the cess, collected by them from real estate firms, as their work was hit due to the ban. Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh governments will have to file compliance affidavits on the issue related to payment of money to construction workers, it said. “We direct the Commission (for Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas) to examine requests of various industries and organisations about relaxation of conditions imposed by virtue of our orders or otherwise as per their circulars. We expect the commission will look into this in a week’s time,” the Bench said.

The Bench decided to dispose of several intervention pleas, including those filed by builders’ body, sugar, rice and paper mills, against certain curbs imposed by the commission and others and asked the panel to decide these issues.

The Bench, at the outset, said that now there was “slight improvement in the quality of air” and the commission may be allowed to decide the issues pertaining to curbs.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre and the commission, said several long-term measures were in contemplation to deal with the issue of air pollution. — PTI