Stubble burning in Punjab, Haryana, UP (X/@NirajRai3)
The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to hold a meeting with the Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh governments regarding proposed action plans to address stubble burning. The bench, comprising Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan, instructed CAQM to consult with these states and submit its recommendations by March 17.
Senior advocate Rahul Mehra, representing the Punjab government, emphasized the necessity of convincing farmers that crop diversification is a viable option. He highlighted that while paddy enjoys assured procurement by the Food Corporation of India, similar policies are lacking for other crops like maize. This disparity in support affects farmers' willingness to adopt alternative practices.
Punjab advocate general Gurminder Singh reiterated the state's commitment to eradicating stubble burning but urged the court to consider additional factors contributing to pollution in Delhi. He presented data showing that after November 15, when the last farm fire was reported, Delhi's air quality index (AQI) remained critically high at 400, indicating ongoing pollution issues unrelated to stubble burning.
The Supreme Court noted non-compliance by Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, and Haryana regarding support for daily wage workers affected by construction halts. The court ordered that chief secretaries of these states be present via video conferencing for future hearings. Previously, the court criticized Punjab and Haryana for their slow action against stubble burning and stressed the need for a long-term solution.
The court mandated that a mechanism be established to ensure continuous data availability on stubble burning incidents. It directed the Centre and CAQM to utilize geostationary satellites for real-time monitoring instead of relying on NASA's polar-orbiting satellites, which provide limited data.
The Centre had previously opposed the formation of a committee of former Supreme Court judges to oversee anti-pollution measures aimed at curbing stubble burning. The court's directive reflects ongoing concerns about the effectiveness of current measures in addressing air quality issues in Delhi-NCR.
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