Bombay High Court Considers Diesel Vehicle Ban Amid Rising Pollution in Mumbai

Bombay High Court Considers Diesel Vehicle Ban Amid Rising Pollution in Mumbai

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The Bombay High Court is concerned about the rising pollution levels in Mumbai, which now resemble those in Delhi. To address this issue, the court, led by Chief Justice DK Upadhayay and Justice GS Kulkarni, is considering a potential ban on diesel vehicles and a shift towards CNG and electric vehicles. This discussion took place during a public interest litigation (PIL) from 2023 that focuses on Mumbai’s worsening air quality.

The court questioned whether Mumbai should phase out diesel vehicles and allow only CNG-powered ones, emphasizing the need for action to reduce pollution. However, it is unclear if this would be a temporary or permanent measure.

Senior Advocate Darius Khambatta, acting as an advisor to the court, highlighted that bakeries using wood or coal-fired ovens (bhattis) are the third-largest contributors to air pollution in Mumbai, after red-category industries and construction sites. The court proposed banning the use of wood and coal in these bhattis and suggested issuing new licenses only to bakeries using cleaner fuel sources. They also asked whether a regulatory framework exists for these bhattis.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), represented by Senior Advocate Milind Sathe, stated that it has already sent notices to bakeries still using coal or wood, urging them to switch to sustainable methods.

Other proposed measures to tackle pollution include setting up real-time pollution monitors at construction sites and speeding up audits of red-category industries, which are major polluters. The court expressed dissatisfaction with the slow progress, noting that only 957 out of 7,268 industries have been audited. The judges criticized the lack of initiative, stating that actions are often taken only when prompted by the court.

The hearing has been postponed, and a detailed order is expected to be issued later.