Even as Punjab, Haryana and Delhi spar over the annual incidence of farm fires leading to severe air pollution in the NCR, the Apex Court has reprimanded the squabbling states and ordered them to get their act together and put an end to the menace. A report by Rajesh Moudgil
Burning of the paddy straw after every harvest season in Punjab, Haryana and a few other states leading to severe air pollution in Delhi and the national capital region (NCR) seemed to be a business as usual until November 7 when the Supreme Court took on them telling them sternly to put an end to the practice of stubble burning as it was their job.
While the Delhi-NCR choked and continued to be a virtual gas chamber due to smog primarily caused by the farm fires in the adjoining states, the top court told the governments of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi to take immediate steps to stop the incidence of stubble burning – one of the main contributors for the severe air pollution in the region.
Here is what it held: The SC Bench led by Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul made the local station house officer (SHO) under the supervision of the director general of police (DGP) and the chief secretary (CS) of the respective state responsible for ensuring that stubble burning was stopped. The bench asked them to work on it, right away.
It said that it wanted it (stubble burning) stopped, did not know how the states do it ….. it was their job and it should be done immediately.
“We do not care how you do it… it must stop. Whether by forceful actions and sometimes by incentives, you have to stop the fire. Your administration must do so,” it said and added that the residents of Delhi were grappling with health problems year after year as the issue had not been resolved.
The Bench said there could not be a political battle every time…. Delhi could not be made to go through this year after year.
Notably, Delhi and Punjab have the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) governments, Haryana has BJP-Jannayak Janta Party (JJP)-combine government.
Delhi measures “all optics”
The apex court also questioned the effectiveness of the Delhi government’s odd-even car rationing scheme so as to check the vehicular pollution in the national capital, terming it as “all optics’’. The Supreme Court asked the Delhi government to ensure that the municipal solid waste was not burnt in the open. When the amicus curiae Aparajita Singh said that the smog towers installed by the Delhi government were not working, Justice Kaul termed it “ludicrous’’ and asked the Delhi government to have them repaired immediately.
