Delhi authorities told to clean up their act

The Delhi High Court pulled up the capital's authorities for their ''casual attitude'' to the constitutional guarantee of a pollution-free atmosphere.

A division bench consisting of Justice Y K Sabharwal and Justice D K Jain said a "hygienic environment is an integral facet of the right to healthy life''.

The bench was hearing a petition moved by advocate K C Goswami who sought that the transportation of unpacked sand be stopped between 8 am and 8 pm on working days. The petitioner also sought that the court direct the Delhi Development Authority to stop the unauthorised use of its land for storing of sand and "badarpur" (a construction material) and other material from the Badarpur Thermal Power Station.

The bench noted that even after a year, the State Transport Authority, Delhi, and the Delhi government had not filed their reply affidavits. Even the DDA's affidavit was filed in the high court registry only on Tuesday.

The bench testily directed that senior officers of the DDA, the STA, the Delhi police and the Central Pollution Control Board should together discuss the matter within 10 days and file a report to the high court by March 10. The bench will hear the petition again on March 13.

DDA officials had stated that it would demolish the unauthorised structures as soon as police protection was provided. The bench told the authority to clarify before March 6 when the demolition orders were passed and on which the dates the police was requested to provide protection for it.

The Delhi police, in its affidavit, had stated that directions had been issued to ''challan'' trucks carrying sand without any covering, as per section 132 of the Motor Vehicles Act. But the bench observed that it was not enough as such offenders could get away by paying a token sum. The judges also asked the STA's counsel why the authority did not cancel permits of vehicles violating the law.