The Bombay High Court on Wednesday reportedly expressed alarm over the Maharashtra’s Mumbai surpassing Delhi in pollution levels, air quality shocking while asking authorities how they were not losing sleep over the “emergency situation”.
During the hearing, Justice Kulkarni reportedly observed that Mumbai was failing to capitalise on its geographical advantages, including its sea breeze and open spaces. “No action on the issue of prior permission to use music systems in the processions being obtained, with an undertaking to comply with the decibel limits. Also, burning of firecrackers on busy public streets is not being controlled. There appears to be routine violations of the orders passed by this Court,” it observed. A division bench was hearing a suo motu Public Interest Litigation (PIL) concerning pollution. The judges expressed concern over violations of court orders regulating sound systems and the bursting of firecrackers on public streets, as well as the authorities’ failure to take timely measures to inform citizens about the restrictions.
The court also pulled up the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation ( BMC ) and the MPCB for failing to issue public notices about its October 15 order prohibiting the bursting of firecrackers in public places, including streets, lanes and footpaths.
A further rise in pollution is possible in the coming weeks as Diwali approaches, with firecrackers potentially being permitted more widely this year in light of the Supreme Court’s observations earlier this month. The court on Wednesday reprimanded civic authorities, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) and the police for failing to implement its directions on air and noise pollution, particularly during festivals and religious processions.
A bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant called for a “pragmatic and practical” approach to regulating firecrackers, cautioning that people could view overly restrictive measures as coercive. The court linked the Delhi-NCR case to a nationwide matter before a bench headed by Justice MM Sundresh, which had cleared “next-generation” laris, or joint crackers, across the country on September 30.
