Delhi Smog: 'Builders can't deny wages to labourers if work stops due to air pollution,' orders NGT

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Thursday ordered that builders cannot deny wages to labourers if "work is stopped for causing air pollution" and that they would have to "bear the burden of all consequences" of air pollution.

"It is a settled rule of environmental jurisprudence that polluter pays principle and covers all consequential effects of air pollution. It is the polluter who is expected to take all precautions and also face consequences. The builder will not be able to deny wages, partially or fully, when work is stopped for causing air pollution," the NGT ordered.

The Delhi government was also directed to place its order on air pollution passed on November 10 before competent authorities, along with the data on ambient quality provided by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the Indian Express reported.

The NGT also asked the authorities to submit to them by Friday the minutes of the meeting of the centralised monitoring committee that has been formed by the tribunal to prepare action plans to combat air pollution in Delhi.

"We are informed that the meeting to be convened by the secretary, ministry of environment and forests is fixed today. Let the minutes of meeting be placed before the NGT," the bench said.