Mumbai: The Bombay High Court has directed the Maharashtra government to form a committee of experts and civil administrators within a fortnight to assess the feasibility of phasing out diesel and petrol vehicles in Mumbai and permitting only CNG and electric vehicles.
A bench of Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Girish Kulkarni passed the direction while hearing a suo motu (on its own) petition addressing the issue of alarming level of air pollution in the city and Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
During the hearing on January 9, the HC had remarked that unless something “drastic” was done, the situation will not come under control. In a detailed order made available on Tuesday late night, the HC has highlighted “vehicular emission is one of the main sources of air pollution” to the city’s deteriorating air quality.
“The roads in Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) are choked with vehicles, and the density of vehicles on the roads is alarming, which, in result, compounds the problems relating to air pollution and makes all measures taken to mitigate the same inadequate,” the bench observed.
The Court has instructed the government to form a committee comprising experts, civil administrators, and traffic management officials to study the feasibility of phasing out petrol and diesel vehicles. The committee has three months to complete the study and submit its report.
“We direct that all the necessary infrastructure for conducting and completing this study shall be provided by the State Government in the concerned Department. The State Government shall facilitate the Committee with all the information, inputs and data needed for completion of the study,” the bench emphasised.
The Court also addressed pollution caused by bakeries and similar establishments using coal and wood in their operations. It directed the BMC and the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) to ensure such units switch to green fuels within six months instead of the one-year deadline previously set by authorities.
“Urgent and effective measures are required to be taken against such bakery units so that they do not generate air pollution, and more particularly, limit hazardous particulate matter,” the bench said. The Court further ordered that no new licenses be issued for bakeries or similar units unless they commit to using green fuels.
Additionally, the bench mandated the installation of pollution indicators at all construction sites and ensured that they are centrally connected and monitored rigorously. “If such devices are not installed within one month, action be taken against such units, including closing down of such constructions, till the compliances are achieved,” it directed.
The bench also asked the government to expedite staffing approvals for MPCB, allowing it to fill 1,3100 vacant posts within six months. It further ordered an audit of “red category” industries—those classified as highly polluting—to be completed within two months.
The High Court has identified construction dust, industrial emissions, and vehicular pollution as significant contributors to the city’s air quality crisis. “The major sources being “construction dust”, pollution created by Bakeries, Hotels, Restaurants and Bhattis etc. The pollution generated by different industries as also vehicular pollution are the other major sources,” the bench said in its 18-page order.
The HC has also directed the BMC to “closely monitor” the vehicles like dumpers being used at large construction sites like the Coastal Road project, as also major other projects in the city, private or public, and that such projects provide for water sprinklers as also facilities of cleaning tires of the vehicles to be meticulously observed 24×7. The HC has kept the matter for hearing on February 13.
