New Delhi, Jul 22 (IANS): The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Delhi government to give its response to the Environment Pollution Control Authority's (EPCA) report on a parking area management plan for the national capital.

A bench of Justices Arun Mishra and Deepak Gupta asked the Delhi government to file a reply to the report prepared by EPCA within a week.

Senior advocate Aparajita Singh, who is assisting the top court as an amicus curiae in pollution matters, appreciated South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) for its work in managing parking in the crowded Lajpat Nagar Central Market and adjacent colonies.

EPCA said in its report that SDMC has initiated a pilot project in Lajpat Nagar that encompasses both commercial area of Central Market and adjacent residential colonies of the area.

The advocate told the court that the new parking space also provides a way for emergency response vehicles.

She told the court that the parking model adopted by SDMC can be replicated by others.

The bench asked the status of other municipal corporations in adopting the plan and listed the matter for July 29.

EPCA in its report said that a parking area management plan can only be enforced if there is a legal framework which provides for deterrence against illegal parking and penalties for not adhering to the plan.

It suggested careful planning for providing spaces for car parking and that there should be coordination between different road types including service roads, residential lanes and commercial areas.