Swarna Shukla –
Published On: October 15, 2021 at 09:20 IST
The Gujarat High Court admitted a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking directions to authorities to order industries to switch to gas from using Coal as Fuel, to control Air Pollution in the State.
Petitioner Advocate Amit Panchal submitted that shifting to gas as fuel is preferred because coal-burning leads to air pollution in a significant manner.
Compared with coal, PNG/CNG is a clean fuel and results in little or no pollution.
The Governments are duty-bound to provide clean air to the citizens and they have the power to mandate the use of gas to run industries under the provisions of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981
The Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) responded to the PIL by submitting that it has a project in place to reduce Air Pollution.
The project was prepared after the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) placed Gujarat’s major cities in the list of a total of 102 ‘non-attainment cities.
Also Read: What is the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas Bill, 2021?