The Supreme Court declared today that the “murder of people’s health” is caused by Delhi’s chokehold air quality and that it cannot be used as a political football. According to the court, one of the main causes of Delhi’s annual sharp increase in air pollution is the burning of agricultural leftovers in the neighbouring states of Punjab and Haryana. It requested action from the Punjabi government to put an end to stubble burning. “We demand that it end. It’s your job; we have no idea how you do it. However, it needs to end. The Punjab government lawyer was instructed by the court that urgent action was required.
Air pollution in Delhi-NCR: Supreme Court asks Punjab government to stop the stubble burning. Supreme Court observes that there can’t be a political battle all the time.
“We want it (stubble burning) stopped. We don’t know how you do it, it’s your job. But it must be stopped.… pic.twitter.com/VgMWOmBv5l
— ANI (@ANI) November 7, 2023
The Delhi government was also not spared by the court. “The Delhi administration needs to be accountable as well. Numerous buses are operating at half capacity and causing pollution. It said, “You need to take care of the issue.
The case was scheduled for Friday by Justice SK Kaul and Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia’s bench. The government of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, and Delhi has been invited by the court to a meeting to discuss strategies for putting an end to stubble burning. Additionally, it has stated that it will examine vehicle emissions, which are a significant source of air pollution in Delhi.
The national capital’s poisonous air quality, which has been in the “severe” category for the past three days, was the subject of a case that the court was considering. Data from the Central Pollution Control Board indicates that today’s AQI in various parts of Delhi was over 400, which is four times the acceptable threshold of air quality.
Advocate Aparajita Singh stated during her appearance on behalf of the petitioner that Punjab’s farm fires have not been contained. She added that the main cause of Delhi’s declining air quality is stubble burning. “The states and the Commission for Air Quality Management (AQM) claim to be doing everything within their power to reduce air pollution.
Appearing for the petitioners, Senior Advocate Gopal Shankaranarayan stated that this case has been heard since 2017 and that multiple orders have been issued.
The court further ordered Punjab and the Center to find a crop other than paddy. It highlighted how the state’s water table is being destroyed by paddy.
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Over the past few years, the yearly increase in Delhi’s air pollution levels and the cause—the burning of stubble—have become a contentious political issue. Previous accusations against rival governments in Punjab and Haryana for not taking more action against agricultural residue burning came from the Aam Aadmi Party government in Delhi.
