SC reimposes construction ban in NCR but with conditions

Calls for predictive models so restrictions can come before air worsens

NEW DELHI: After pulling up authorities here for only planning for restrictions after the air quality worsens and not in anticipation of it, the Supreme Court on Wednesday reimposed the ban on construction activities in Delhi-NCR, days after the Commission for Air Quality Management in the NCR allowed it to be lifted.

Significantly, the court of the Chief Justice exempted certain works from the ban — directing that activities such as plumbing work, interior decoration, electrical work and carpentry should be allowed during this time.

The second condition that the top court imposed was that state governments in the NCR should use the funds collected as labour cess for the welfare of construction workers to provide them with compensation for the wages lost due to the ban as per the Minimum Wages Act of the concerned worker groups.

Earlier during the hearing on Wednesday, the court asked why Delhiites should suffer very poor air quality and called for anticipatory preventive steps to deal with the situation before it ever becomes severe — instead of imposing restrictions after the situation worsens, observing that any dip in pollution is because of the wind, an “act of God, which too may come to zero by the end of the day”.