Delhi Pollution: SC Tells Centre To Consider Work From Home For Employees, Call Emergency Meeting With States

Supreme Court says all 'hue and cry' over stubble burning by farmers is without any scientific & factual basis, notes that stubble burning contributes only 4-10 per cent to air pollution in Delhi-NCR

Supreme Court. (File Photo)

New Delhi: The Supreme Court Monday directed the Central government to call an emergency meeting with states on Tuesday to decide on the measures to be undertaken to tackle pollution. It also asked the Centre and state governments to consider implementing 'work from home' for employees living in the National Capital Region.

The court also said all “hue and cry" over stubble burning by farmers was without any scientific and factual basis, as it noted that stubble burning contributes only 4-10 per cent to air pollution in Delhi-NCR, PTI reported.

The apex court pointed out that it’s the construction activity, industry, transport, power and vehicular traffic that are majorly responsible for the pollution, and said the Centre and state governments should consider implementing ‘work from home’ for employees in and around Delhi and stopping non-essential activities.

Here are some of the major observations made by the Supreme Court bench comprising Chief Justice NV Ramana, Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice Surya Kant on Monday as it took up Delhi’s pollution crisis.  

Stubble Burning Contributes Only 4-10% Of Delhi Pollution: Centre, SC

Appearing for the Centre, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta listed several measures planned in an emergency meeting of the officials from Delhi, Punjab and Haryana and the Union government.

He pointed out that stubble burning is not the major cause of pollution, and that it contributes to only 10 per cent of the air pollution, the PTI report said.

Referring to the Centre’s affidavit, the SC bench said 75 per cent of the air pollution is due to industry, dust and transport.

"In the last hearing (on Saturday), we mentioned stubble burning is not a major issue, city-related issues are there. So if you take steps on them, the situation will improve," the court said.

"In fact now the cat is out of the bag, the farmers' stubble burning contributes to only 4 per cent of the pollution as per the chart. So we are targeting something which is totally insignificant," the bench said.

Emergency Meeting Tomorrow

The three-judge bench asked the Centre to call an emergency meeting on Tuesday to discuss “what orders they can pass to effectively control air pollution”.

It pointed out that though the Commission for Air Quality Management had taken some decisions in the National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Act, it has not indicated precise steps it would take to control factors responsible for the air pollution.

The top court also expressed displeasure over the earlier emergency meeting mentioned above. "This is not the way we expected an executive emergency meeting will be held. It is unfortunate that we have to set the agenda. The sum and substance is construction, power, transport, dust and stubble burning are the issues. Ask the committee created and decide how to implement the action plan by tomorrow evening," the bench was quoted as saying in the PTI report. 

SC Slams Delhi Govt For ‘Passing The Buck’

The Supreme Court also pulled up the Delhi government for not using adequate road sweeping machines to control dust, and also for "passing the buck".

It stressed the need for urgent measures and asked the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP government to submit an action plan by Tuesday evening, NDTV reported. 

In an affidavit submitted on Monday before the hearing, the Delhi government told the top court that it would take measures such as complete lockdown to fight air pollution, but it would have a limited effect. It said similar restrictions would be needed for the neighbouring states under the National Capital Region.

Commenting on the affidavit, CJI Ramana asked: "What drastic measures are you taking? Forget affidavits. Road dust...what are you doing on that?"

The court said the major contributing factors for pollution are factories, transportation, dust, and to some extent, stubble burning.

It came down heavily on the Delhi government over its "lame excuses" with regard to tackling the air pollution.

As the court asked Senior Advocate Rahul Mehra, who was appearing for the Delhi government, what measures have been taken towards road cleaning, thw latter submitted that the municipal corporations of Delhi could be asked to file an affidavit to share details.

To this, the CJI remarked: "Are you trying to put the blame on municipal corporations? Are you trying to pass the buck?"

Warning Delhi of an audit, the bench added: "These kinds of lame excuses will force us to hold a proper audit of the revenues you are earning and spending on popularity slogans."

Mehra later told the court: "I got information that 69 machines (mechanical road sweeper machines) are there...we will provide machines and we will work on war footing."

The next hearing in the matter is on November 17.