Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Thursday directed the Principal Secretary (Environment & Forest) to submit Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay's final report on the working of Smog Tower to the Supreme Court, without further delay.
“Smog Tower at Baba Kharak Singh Marg, New Delhi, was installed by Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) on the directions of the Supreme Court in the matter titled M.C. Mehta vs. Union of India during 2020 and started operations in August 2021. It was conceived as a scientific R&D project, among an array of solutions, to help address the seasonal pollution problem in Delhi,†Rai said in a letter.
“Subsequently, Delhi Cabinet decided to set up a Smog Tower at Connaught Place for a two year pilot study with DPCC as nodal agency for coordination and supervision. IIT Bombay and IIT Delhi were supposed to analyse the performance efficiency of the Tower,†the letter stated.
On June 19, the Environment Minister directed the submission of IIT Bombay's final report on the working of Smog Tower at Baba Kharak Singh Marg, New Delhi, to the Supreme Court. Expressing his displeasure Minister Gopal Rai mentions that the said report has not been submitted before the Supreme Court for consideration till date.
Stating that the report hasn’t been submitted, the senior AAP leader claimed, “I had directed to submit the Final Report prepared by IIT, Bombay on the working of this Smog Tower before the Supreme Court, so as to decide on further continuing of its operations. It has come to my notice that the said report has not been submitted before the Supreme Court for consideration till date.â€
“In view of the above and considering that the winter season is approaching fast, the final report on the working of Smog Tower prepared by IIT Bombay will be submitted before the Supreme Court without any further delay,†he asserted.
