Regulate congested Lajpat Nagar traffic by March 10: NGT

The NGT bench had previously noted that “drastic measures were needed if residents of NCR Delhi are to be protected against health hazards arising from air pollution”. It then prohibited parking of cars on metalled roads to reduce congestion and traffic snarls.

On Wednesday, it directed the PWD secretary to call a meeting “wherin the Joint Commissioner Traffic, the Commissioner North Municipal Corporation, officials of the PWD, DDA, CPWD and the market federation would be present and examine the proposal prepared by the Traffic Police for reducing congestion of traffic in Karol Bagh and reducing the serious air pollution”.

After being informed that a multi-level car parking was being built at Shastri Park, the NGT bench asked the committee to examine “if there was any other space” for constructing another such parking facility. It also asked Traffic Police to strictly enforce its orders, “particularly in relation to Karol Bagh, South Extension and Nehru Place”.

Meanwhile, the Delhi High Court bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice R S Endlaw on Wednesday also agreed to look into a PIL filed by environment lawyer Sudhir Mishra on air pollution and health hazards in Delhi.

Mishra in his plea said Delhi was witnessing a state of “medical emergency” due to increasing air pollution. The PIL sought orders to regulate traffic, including restriction on heavy vehicles. The PIL also sought directions to establish better air quality monitoring stations and educate people on air pollution and measures to combat the ill-effects of pollution. A different bench of the court had earlier taken up the issue of air pollution suo motu. The two PILs are now set to be heard next week.