The Supreme Court has issued a significant order regarding the air crisis in Delhi, emphasizing that the worsening air quality is causing harm to people’s health and cannot be turned into a political issue. The court highlighted the burning of crop residue in neighbouring states, particularly Punjab and Haryana, as a major factor contributing to the severe air pollution in Delhi during the winter months. It has called upon the Punjab government to take immediate action to curb stubble burning and urged the Delhi government to address the issue of pollution caused by buses operating below capacity.
The bench, comprising Justice SK Kaul and Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia, has scheduled further proceedings for Friday. It has directed the Central government to convene a meeting with the governments of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, and Delhi to explore measures to halt stubble burning. Additionally, the court has expressed its intention to examine vehicular emissions, another significant contributor to Delhi’s air pollution crisis.
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The court’s decision came in response to a case highlighting the toxic air quality in Delhi, which has consistently fallen into the ‘severe’ category in recent days. The court stressed the urgency of addressing the issue and called for collective action to mitigate the environmental hazards associated with crop residue burning. The political aspect of the problem, with blame-shifting between different governments, has been a contentious issue, with the Aam Aadmi Party, which governs both Delhi and Punjab, facing pressure to address the matter effectively. Stubble burning remains a concern for farmers due to the tight timeline for winter sowing and the cost-effective nature of this method compared to alternatives involving labor or machinery.
