List steps taken on farm fires: SC to Punjab, Haryana

The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked Punjab and Haryana to spell out the steps taken by them to keep a check on stubble burning, which has resulted in worsening of air quality levels in the National Capital Region (NCR).

"Let Punjab and Haryana governments respond on the steps taken to control stubble burning," a three-judge Bench led by Chief Justice of India BR Gavai said, posting the matter for further hearing on November 17.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi recorded an average air quality index (AQI) of 418 in the past 24 hours. Amicus curiae senior advocate Aparajita Singh submitted that farmers were timing their stubble burning to avoid detection by satellites.

"There is a NASA scientist…he says that the crop (residue) is burnt after the satellite passes away. He has analysed it through the European and Korean satellites and he has said they had delayed the burning of the crops in tune with the passing of the satellite…this is a little important,” the amicus curiae said.

Flagging discrepancies in official data, she said the situation was "very dangerous" and if the NASA scientist was right then the data collected on stubble burning might not be authentic.

Referring to a news report, she said farmers were allegedly being told by the administration to burn stubble only at a particular time. Terming it “alarming”, she urged the Bench to ask the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to respond to it. The Bench, however, said it would take up the matter on November 17.

The amicus curiae had on Tuesday told the Bench that stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana had led to worsening of air pollution levels in Delhi-NCR.

Singh had urged the Bench to seek responses from the governments of Punjab and Haryana as NASA satellite images showed stubble burning in the two states was worsening to an already severe air pollution level in Delhi-NCR.

At the outset of the hearing on Wednesday, senior advocate Gopal Sankarnarayanan said currently GRAP III (Graded Response Action Plan) was in force. "Grap IV should be implemented. The AQI has crossed 450 at some places. There is drilling excavation happening outside a court here...that shouldn't happen at least within these premises," Sankarnarayanan said. The Bench said action would be taken with regard to construction activities.

One of the advocates said, "There is a huge problem… the data getting uploaded is false.” On behalf of the CPCB, Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati said, "We have filed a status report, officers are also present in the court, they will explain everything."