Stubble-burning in Punjab, Haryana worsened air quality in Delhi-NCR, SC told

As Delhi recorded an average Air Quality Index (AQI) of 428 in the last 24 hours, the Supreme Court was on Tuesday told that stubble-burning in Punjab and Haryana has led to worsening of air pollution levels in Delhi-NCR.

Senior advocate Aprajita Singh, who is assisting the top court as amicus curiae, told a Bench headed by Chief Justice of India BR Gavai that stubble-burning has begun with impunity in Punjab and Haryana.

Singh urged the Bench -- which is scheduled to hear the air pollution matter on Wednesday – to seek responses from the governments of Punjab and Haryana as NASA satellite images showed that stubble-burning in the two states was worsening to an already severe air pollution level in Delhi-NCR.

As she said the top court’s orders were being flouted with impunity, the CJI said, "We will pass some orders on Wednesday.”

Only nine of Delhi's 37 air quality monitoring stations were functioning on Diwali – when the city was smothered by toxic smog of chemicals from 'green' firecrackers, dust and vehicular pollution, and hazardous particulate matter from farm fires – the amicus curiae had told the Bench on November 3. "There needs to be a report from CAQM on the current air pollution status,” she had told the Bench which ordered the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to place on record an affidavit detailing the steps proposed to be taken to prevent the pollution turning to “severe".

Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati had said state agencies would file the report as required by the court.

While allowing green crackers in Delhi-NCR from October 18 to October 20 during Diwali with certain conditions, the top court had on October 15 asked the Central Pollution Control Board, in consultation with the State Pollution Control Boards and their respective regional offices within the districts coming under the NCR to monitor the air quality index in their respective jurisdictions till October 25 and file a report specifying the air quality of each day.