The PIL said that Mumbai tops in vehicular emission due to lack of space to expand and a rising number of diesel vehicles
Mumbai : The Bombay High Court today asked the Maharashtra Government, Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), state Ministry of Environment and three others to file their response to a petition seeking the introduction of the odd-even rule for private cars on Mumbai roads on the pattern adopted in Delhi.
A bench of Justices V M Kanade and Reveti Mohite-Dere asked the respondents, including state Ministry of Environment, Regional Transport Office and Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM), to file affidavits by February 9.
As per the odd-even pattern, vehicles with registration numbers ending with even figures and those with odd numbers would run on alternate days respectively.
The public interest litigation, filed by Sadaab Patel, contended that the residents of the mega-polis are facing health problems due to air pollution caused by carbon monoxide emitted from vehicles and by burning and other ways of disposal of solid waste by the civic body.
Recent studies conducted by experts show that the pollution levels are steadily rising and hence there is a need to introduce the odd-even rule for private vehicles on roads, the petitioner contended.
Counsel for MCGM Anil Sakhare sought time to address the court on the issue. Advocates Armin Wandrewala and Ravi Gadagkar appeared as intervenors.
