The Supreme Court criticized the governments of Delhi, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan on Tuesday for their practice of stubble burning, ruling that Delhi could not be forced to endure dangerously high air pollution every year. “What is the way forward? The bench of the highest court declared that Delhi could not be forced to endure this.”
The Supreme Court asked all the stakeholders in the matter to meet on Wednesday for a meeting. ““Eminent Secretary should call for a meeting tomorrow, whether physically or Zoom. All stakeholders will connect to ensure that we have a better picture and some redemtion by Friday,” Justice SK Kaul of the bench said.
Declaring that the Delhi air pollution problem cannot be transformed into a political dispute, Justice Kaul made note of all the state-appointed counsel’s concerns over the health effects of the pollution on youngsters in the nation’s capital.
Punjab AG said that crop burning only happens for 20-50 days. To this, Justice Kaul said it is the “timing” of stubble burning and there is “no seriousness” attached to the issue. “We do not care how you do it… it must stop. Whether sometimes by forceful actions and sometimes by incentives,” the top court remarked.
Punjab AG was informed by Justice Kaul that the government must “put out the fire.” “Your government needs to act. You have to hold your local SHO accountable. They have to get to work on it starting now,” he declared.
The Delhi government was also questioned by the bench regarding the steps taken to prevent cars from entering the nation’s capital. One of the main sources of pollution in the city is vehicular pollution.
