The Delhi High Court asked the Aam Aadmi Party government to procure straw from the neighbouring states. The order is passed for spreading it under newly planted saplings in the Central Ridge area of the national capital to ensure retention of soil and water there as well as reduce crop burning.

The Move will help in the reduction of the burning of straws

Justice Najmi Waziri of the Delhi High Court, said such a move would ensure a reduction in the burning of straw which is one of the major contributors to air pollution in Delhi and would also help to generate good topsoil  in the central ridge area which in many parts has rocky soil which is not good for planting saplings. This direction came in during hearing of a contempt case in which a private company was ordered to plant 1.4 lakh saplings worth Rs 80 lakh in the Central Ridge area for breaching judicial orders. The judicial orders demanded not to manufacture and sell diabetes medication under the brand names used by pharma major Merck Sharp and Dohme (MSD). During the hearing in the matter, the forest department told the court that there was very little topsoil in the central ridge area and it was rocky and therefore, not suitable for planting saplings in such huge numbers. Subsequently, the court suggested the use of paddy or wheat straw, which is discarded and burned after the harvest, for spreading under the saplings.

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HC asks Delhi Government to strengthen forest department

Apart from this direction, the court also issued various other directions for ensuring water supply for watering the saplings, tagging them and to display their varieties and numbers. The court also issued directions to the Delhi government with regard to augmenting the strength of the forest department.

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Delhi’s 7 point plan to curb pollution

This decision comes after the Delhi CM announced a 7-point on Friday named the ‘Parali Pradushan Action Plan’ that includes steps to curb pollution. He also said that pollution in Delhi is down by 25% and Delhi is the only city to achieve that. The CM also said that the city has to prepare for smog due to crop burning and winters.

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NGT rejects plea challenging odd-even scheme

The NGT (National Green Tribunal) on Wednesday, rejected a plea that challenged Delhi the decision of the AAP government to implement the odd-even road rationing scheme in the national capital from November 4-15. Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal on Friday said that the odd-even scheme was a part of a seven-point 'Parali Pradushan' action plan that also includes mass distribution of anti-pollution masks, mechanised sweeping and water sprinkling on roads, tree plantation, and special plans for 12 pollution hotspots in Delhi.
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(Inputs from PTI)