The Bombay High Court (HC) on Thursday, January 29, announced that it will form a high-powered committee to closely monitor whether officials are adhering to the measures provided to control air pollution in Mumbai and surrounding areas.
The court stated that the steps taken so far by the state government, municipal corporations, and pollution control officials are insufficient and have failed to yield tangible results on the ground. A division bench headed by Chief Justice Chandrashekhar clarified that the court is not blaming or targeting any officials, but rather, its primary concern is public health. The bench stated that it is not criticizing anyone, but rather wants to ensure that
The High Court recalled that it had taken suo motu cognizance of Mumbai's deteriorating air quality in October 2023. At that time, pollution levels across the city fluctuated across all categories, the court said, “between good, satisfactory, moderately poor, very poor, and severe.”
Subsequently, on November 6, 2023, the High Court issued detailed directives to address Mumbai's growing pollution crisis and suggested several short-term, mid-term, and long-term measures. However, the bench observed that even after these directives, the steps taken by civic bodies in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai were far from satisfactory.
The judges noted that the court had repeatedly expressed its displeasure over the lack of effective action by the municipal corporations and other authorities responsible for pollution control. The court made strong remarks against the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), saying that it was merely "working on its affidavit," while the steps it claimed to have taken were clearly insufficient to reduce pollution levels.
The bench also noted that air quality in Mumbai has not improved at all. Instead, pollution levels have worsened and were reported as very severe in December.
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