HC to hear plea to control Delhi air pollution

New Delhi, March 4 (IANS) The Delhi High Court on Wednesday said it would hear on March 11 a PIL seeking directions to the government to take immediate steps to control increasing air pollution in Delhi.

A division bench of Chief Justice G. Rohini and Justice R.S. Endlaw said a similar plea had been pending before another bench.

A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by lawyer Sudhir Mishra said that the central government should "formulate plans, policies and programmes to promote healthcare facilities by which the quality of human life and life expectancy is increased".

Air in Delhi is the most polluted in the world, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The report contained results of outdoor air pollution monitored in almost 1,600 cities in 91 countries.

"The ever increasing air pollution in the state is adversely affecting the image, habitability, prospects of trade and commerce, growth of tourism sector and health of the citizens of India residing or visiting Delhi, thereby inter alia, violating the fundamental right to life," the plea said.

It sought directions to set up of a joint task force to implement strategies to monitor the levels of air pollution in Delhi and to take immediate effective measure to combat and reduce air pollution.

Another bench had taken suo motu cognizance of the issue after taking note of a report that said Delhi was the most polluted city in the world.