NGT Allows to File Objections on Plea to Ban Nighttime Flights at Delhi IGI Airport

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has granted permission to the Airports Authority of India (AAI), the Delhi Pollution Control Committee, and other concerned parties to submit their objections within a two-week period regarding the maintainability of a petition seeking directives to prohibit nighttime take-offs and landings at airports in the national capital.

The NGT was addressing a petition that called for a ban on take-offs and landings (with exceptions for international flights) at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport and all other airports within the city boundaries between 10 PM and 6 AM due to noise pollution.

A bench comprised of NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and expert member A Senthil Vel stated, “The counsel representing the respondents has requested time to file preliminary objections about the maintainability of the Original Application (OA). This filing must be completed within two weeks.”

Respondents in this matter include the central government, Airports Authority of India (AAI), Directorate General of Civil Aviation, Delhi International Airport Ltd, and Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC).

During the proceedings, the petitioner’s counsel referred to the Environment (Protection) Amendment Rules of the central government, which define ambient air quality standards concerning “noise” within the “Airport Noise Zone.”

“The counsel requests time to evaluate the meaning of ‘Airport Noise Zone’ and identify the areas near the IGI Airport covered by the Airport Noise Zone, providing relevant material in this regard,” the bench remarked, agreeing to the request.

Consequently, the bench has scheduled further proceedings for November 22, 2023.