Highlights:
- The Supreme Court issued a stern warning to the government of the national capital stressing the adoption of scientific study to tackle the annual problem of air pollution.
- Compensation to farmers to stave off farm fires and setting of an acceptable AQI level were emphasized.
The Supreme Court has called attention to the worsening air quality crisis in the national capital region and insists on the conduction of scientific study rather than the adoption of ad-hoc measures which are unhelpful.
The court also said that it would continue to hear this case and dictate measures, despite the decline in pollution levels. As far as stubble burning was concerned, the court ordered the government to settle on a plan of action concerning fines and that it is not possible to micromanage things. The development of a statistical model was stressed upon by the court.
The Air Quality Index (AQI) in the city fell into the “very poor’’ category this morning and it has particularly degenerated earlier this month following non-observance on the ban of crackers. The government was instructed to set a predefined acceptable AQI level for the city and pointed out how this has turned out to be an annual dilemma.
The top court demanded a list of measures that are planned and their consequences within a week’s duration.
Central government representative, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta responded saying that both immediate and long-term plans have been catalogued. Petitioner representative, Vikas Singh underlined that the issue of stubble burning needs to be catered to and that some form of compensation can be given to the farmers to prevent farm fires.
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The court condemned the fact that no study has been conducted to date regarding the quantity of stubble removed from Punjab, Haryana and UP and such negligence would pose a huge problem in the future.
It also questioned the bureaucracy’s negligence in tackling the issue. The SC communicated the necessity of devising a lasting solution to the problem even if it requires the Secretaries to visit the fields and hold a discussion with the farmers and scientists.
