Supreme Court Expresses Concern Over Stubble Burning & Pollution In Delhi NCR

The Supreme Court has voiced serious concerns regarding the incidents of stubble burning and the persistent pollution problem in the Delhi-NCR region.

The court highlighted that despite numerous meetings, the parties have taken little action to effectively address the issue.

It noted that the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), responsible for suggesting and implementing measures to control pollution, has failed to enforce its directives.

Insights

Justice Abhay S Oka, leading the bench, remarked that the CAQM has not initiated a single case against the incidents of stubble burning.

The court pointed out that there appears to be a reluctance to prosecute individuals for violations of the CAQM’s orders, emphasizing that discussions alone have not led to tangible solutions.

The Supreme Court has sought responses from the central government, as well as the governments of Punjab and Haryana, regarding their strategies to combat stubble burning.

The court has scheduled the next hearing on the matter for 16 October.

Additionally, the court questioned the lack of punitive actions taken against farmers and officials responsible for stubble burning, asking why police and state officials were absent from meetings.

It also asked about the minimal fines imposed for such violations.

The bench reiterated the need for strict adherence to the court’s directives aimed at curbing stubble burning and holding accountable those who fail to act.

The court noted that even the subcommittee responsible for implementing safety measures had not discussed the execution of its orders from June 2021.

Recent data presented to the court indicated that there were 129 instances of stubble burning reported in Punjab and 81 in Haryana during the last 15 days of September.

In a previous hearing, the Supreme Court reprimanded the CAQM for inadequate compliance reports and expressed astonishment that the commission’s subcommittee met only four times a year.

During the proceedings, the court asked whether committees had been formed under Section 11, how many meetings had occurred, and what actions had been taken to mitigate the pollution crisis in the region.

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