After SC's rap, Centre forms 5-member task force to curb air pollution in Delhi-NCR

New Delhi: A day after the Supreme Court's rap, the Centre's Air Quality Commission for Delhi NCR has said that it has constituted a five-member task force to monitor implementation of the top court's directions to curb air pollution in the national capital.

The commission has said that it also constituted 17 flying squads for taking punitive measures against defaulters, which will be increased to 40 in 24 hours.

The government filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court on Friday and said that the five-member enforcement task force and the flying squad has also been given preventive legislative powers.

In an affidavit, the director of the commission said that the flying squads are directed to report to the enforcement task force of the commission.

The enforcement task force itself will exercise powers of taking punitive and preventive measures against the non-compliant/ defaulting persons/ entities.

The top court will take up the pollution-related matter at 10 a.m. Friday.

The commission added that the squads are already operational from December 2, and they have conducted surprise checks at 25 sites.

The Centre also cited that only 5 out of the 11 thermal power plants within a 300 km radius of Delhi will be allowed to operate until December 15. "I respectfully state and submit that all schools and colleges in NCR shall remain closed till further orders, allowing only online mode of application except to conduct examinations and laboratory practical, etc.," added the affidavit.

The commission filed the affidavit in a case by a 17-year-old Delhi student Aditya Dubey raising concerns about severe air pollution in Delhi.