SC asks Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, UP to spell out steps taken to stop stubble burning

Satya Prakash
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, August 10

The Supreme Court on Monday asked Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh to spell out steps taken to stop stubble burning that virtually turns the entire NCR into a gas chamber during October-November.

A Bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra asked the chief secretary of Punjab—who attended the hearing through video-conferencing—about the steps taken to providing machines and equipment to small and marginal farmers so as to dissuade them from burning stubble.

The Punjab chief secretary told the Bench that subsidy was being provided to small and marginal farmers but the state was facing financial constraints due to COVID-19 pandemic.

The court asked the Centre about the subsidy being given and the implementation of its orders in the case. It asked all the stakeholders to give detailed report on the issue of stubble burning.

Maintaining that policies needed to be put in place to prevent stubble burning it sought to know if Panchayats had been roped in for spreading awareness about government projects aimed at stopping the agricultural practice of stubble burning.

It asked all the parties to file affidavits detailing the steps taken to dealing with pollution hotspots in the region. It also asked Punjab Government to apprise it about the steps taken to deal with industries which were found non-compliant with pollution norms.

The top court—which is seized of a PIL on air pollution in NCR—directed Delhi chief secretary to file an affidavit on the present status of 13 pollution hotspots in the national capital and steps taken to control air pollution.

“What steps have been taken? We want affidavit on all issues…not just stubble burning… We want involvement of Centre on formulation of rules/laws to prevent and confiscate vehicles running on kerosene,” it asked.

The top court observed that kerosene run vehicles cannot ply on roads. “It’s a sinister thing. These vehicles should be confiscated. If it’s allowed things will never approve,” it added asking the Centre, Delhi Government and Environment Pollution (Prevention & Control) Authority to file report on air pollution aspect.

It asked the Centre to “start at the earliest” the work for installation of smog tower at Anand Vihar in east Delhi, which is aimed at helping in combating air pollution.