SC notices to Centre, GAIL and six states

New Delhi, Nov 30 (UNI) The Supreme Court today issued notices to the Union Petroleum ministry, the Gas Authority of India Ltd.

(GAIL), and states of Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka,Gujarat and Maharashtra on an application filed by the Environment Pollution (Prevention&Control) Authority (EPCA) seeking directions to the authorities to introduce Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) to reduce pollution in seven critically polluted cities.

The seven cities - Ahmedabad, Kanpur, Sholapur, Lucknow, Bangalore, Chennai and Hyderabad- are critically polluted as pollution levels are alarming.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Y K Sabharwal and Justices Arijit Pasayat and S H Kapadia directed the respondents to file their response and status report within four weeks.

The 28th report of EPCA which was taken on board by the court said that Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) report shows that the Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter (RSPM) levels in the seven cities are alarming and CNG must be introduced in place of petrol and diesel which are the main source of atmospheric pollution.

UNI AKS/SC RP PM1757