Smog Tower: IIT Bombay signs MoU, Centre sticks to 10-month timeline to complete project

After "backing out" from the Supreme Court-ordered Smog Tower project and consequently incurring the Court's wrath, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay has now agreed to supervise the exercise (MC Mehta v. Union of India)..Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the Bench of Justices Arun Mishra, BR Gavai and Krishna Murari today that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed with IIT Bombay, which has now agreed to supervise the Smog Tower project. .SG Mehta stated that the project would take a total of 10 months to be completed and that this period "could not be curtailed further.".When Justice Mishra sought to know when the foundation work would start, it was submitted that the foundation date would be revealed next Monday. .As per details of the affidavit filed by the Centre before the Supreme Court, IIT Bombay will oversee the project, whereas National Buildings Construction Corporation (NBCC) Limited will construct the tower. TATA will be responsible for its installation. .The Bench asked Mehta to place the MoU on record, and sought to be informed of the funds required for the project and the time needed for its completion..On July 31, SG Mehta had informed the Bench that IIT Bombay will be signing an MoU with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and other stakeholders for setting up smog towers to combat air pollution in the national capital.."We will not tolerate this laxity", Supreme Court directs Centre to file affidavit on why Smog Tower project was not completed in time.This, after the Apex Court pulled up the institute for backing out of the project and warned that it would take contempt action against it..Supreme Court hints at taking contempt action against IIT Bombay for backing out from court-ordered Smog Tower project.During the previous hearing, the Bench stated that its January 13 direction to set up a smog tower in Anand Vihar had a three-month deadline attached to it. A miffed Justice Mishra asked,“Why the order which directed compliance in three months was not complied with?” .To this, SG Mehta had stated that the technical aspects would be covered by IIT-Bombay, and the parts had to be procured from Minnesota, United States..The Court had then asked the Centre to file a detailed affidavit on the utilization of funds and the timeline of the project.