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3. CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Court observed that utter disregard to environment has placed Delhi in an unenviable position of being the world’s third grubbiest and most polluted and unhealthy city. 28 In an attempt to preserve the green cover in Delhi, the Supreme Court banned all mining activity in the Delhi ridge area (an extension of the Aravalli Range) and further declared it a ‘Reserved Forest’. 29 In a significant and innovative move to reduce the vehicular pollution in Delhi, the Supreme Court has directed to reroute buses and all commercial vehicles carrying goods not destined for Delhi. By virtue of this ruling, such vehicles are prohibited fromoperating inDelhi from6am to 11pm. 30 In its recent ruling, the NGT directed the seizure of vehicles which are more than 15 years old 31 and ordered that vehicles which do not meet the prevailing emission norms cannot be sold with effect fromApril 1, 2020. 32 Further, the government of India has taken measures to ensure that BS-VI (read Euro VI) compliant fuel is available in Delhi from 1 April 2018 instead of 2024 after the Supreme Court’s intervention. A more unorthodox approach by the Delhi High Court has been to order respondents to plant 15,000 trees in the south Delhi area for using delaying tactics during a trial. 33 Although not directly related, it does demonstrate a proactive approach by the judiciary to tackle environmental issues.
In order to help build future resilience,many companies are incorporating Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives to foster environmental sustainability. Philips India Ltd. planted trees in various cities and rural areas across India in a drive towards a greener and cleaner India. 34 Another CSR project to highlight is that of GE Renewable Energy who are providing 120 turbines for the Gadhsisa Wind Farm in Gujarat. This 300MW project will power the equivalent of 1.1million homes in India. The need for India to move towards cleaner fuels and renewable power in the drive to tackle climate change reflects the changing attitudes of companies and governments alike.
28 M.C. Mehta v. Union of India (1992) 3 SCC 256 29 M.C. Mehta v. Union of India (2018) (11) SCALE 50 30 M.C. Mehta vs. Union of India, (2016) 4 SCC 269 31 Vardhaman Kaushik v. Union of India, 2015 (5) FLT 456 32 M.C. Mehta v. Union of India, W.P. (Civil) 13029 of 1985, decided on October 24, 2018 33 https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/2g-case-court-directs-respondents-to-plant-15-000-trees-for-no-response-1989933 34 https://csrbox.org/India_CSR_Project_Green-India-Delhi_3842
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