The Supreme Court on Wednesday warned Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Bombay of contempt proceedings for backing out from the Government’s projects to install smog towers to battle pollution crisis in national capital.
In December 2019, the top court had directed the Delhi government and the Centre to set up a smog tower at Connaught place in Delhi to curb air pollution in the capital. The court had directed IIT-Bombay to take responsibility for the project. A professor from IIT Bombay, was also a part of high-level committee examining various technologies.
While arguing in the anti-pollution matter on Wednesday, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said the top court that IIT Bombay had withdrawn its participation from the pilot project of installing smog towers. The government is now trying to work out with IIT Delhi experts and experts at National Environmental Engineering Research Institutes.
Justice Arun Mishra strongly objected about IIT Bombay opting out of the experimental project and said, “I can't tolerate this nonsense. We will punish IIT Bombay and other authorities for delaying court orders. How can they back out after six months? How can they back out from a government project? I will draw up a contempt case against them.”
The bench also comprising Justices Vineet Saran and MR Shah expressed their displeasure and observed that they are “not at all happy with the state of affairs".
Smog towers are structures designed as large-scale air purifiers to reduce pollution particles in surrounding areas.
