The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) and the Ministry of Power to respond to suggestions that no new coal-based thermal power plant should be set up within 300 km of Delhi.A Bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant said it would examine the issue of vehicular air pollution on March 12 based on the suggestions made by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to deal with the persistent air quality crisis in the National Capital Region (NCR).The Bench asked the union ministries to respond to a proposal for shifting all coal-based industries out of Delhi-NCR to ensure better air quality. It also asked all stakeholders to spell out their respective stand on the measures suggested by the CAQM to deal with dust due to construction and demolition activities.Directing all stakeholders to file their respective status reports and proposals, it posted the matter for further hearing on March 12.The top court also directed the governments of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan to issue public notices inviting suggestions and objections from stakeholders, including the coal-based industries in the NCR.These notices will be deemed as served by the court, and the states must submit an ‘Action Taken Plan’ detailing the feedback received.The apex court has also asked the MoEFCC, MoPNG and the Power Ministry to submit a joint proposal aimed at phasing out coal-based industries based in the NCR. “The proposal shall identify the industries and determine what alternative fuel sources can be provided for them,” it ordered.The Bench also directed the Delhi Government to submit a specific action plan to implement these CAQM-recommended long-term solutions.“The commission has identified the agencies expected to take action. We consequently direct the Delhi government to submit a proposed action plan to give effect to these measures,” it noted.Apex court proposes to close MC Mehta casesThe Supreme Court on Monday proposed to close the MC Mehta cases on environmental pollution pending since 1984-85. “We are fed up with these kinds of documents and applications,” CJI Surya Kant said.”How many matters in MC Mehta? How many times will MC Mehta (cases) be in a day? Why can’t there be one matter of MC Mehta? When you ask in Parliament, we have to report how many old matters are pending before us. Every time you put us in an embarrassing position that 1985 matter is pending. What is happening in this Court? Why can’t we treat them as separate applications clubbing together and dealing with them separately? I am not going to have these 1985 matters pending here,” the CJI said, posting these matters for hearing in the first week of March.Under cases captioned as MC Mehta versus Union of India, the top court has been dealing with cases relating to the environment, sealing of commercial properties in residential areas in Delhi-NCR and those relating to protection of Taj Mahal in Agra.