The Supreme Court on Tuesday pulled up the Punjab government and directed it to stop the stubble burning adding that there can't be a political battle all the time. The court's stern directions come at a time when the national capital and other parts of north India are fighting a severe pollution crisis, aggravated by stubble burning. The court said, “We want it (stubble burning) stopped. We don't know how you do it, it’s your job. But it must be stopped. Something has to be done immediately.”
"There cannot be a political battle every time," the bench told the counsel appearing for the Punjab government.
Rebuking the state government, Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul who was heading the bench, said, "I am sorry, this is complete murder of health of people, there is no other phrase I have."
Taking note of the severe pollution menace in the national capital which is leading to health issues, the court said, "The concern is this... these farm fires are not stopping. What action the states are taking to stop the farm fires? Delhi cannot be made to go through this year after year."
Even as the Punjab government told the court that stubble burning was reduced by 40 per cent this year, the court said, "We want to stop all this. We don't care how you do it. It is your business how to do it. It must stop." It added, "You have to stop it, whether by forceful action, sometimes by incentives, sometimes by other actions, but you have to stop it. We cannot let people die because of this (pollution).".
Along with Punjab, the top court has also directed the state governments of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan to stop stubble burning immediately and made the local Station House Officer (SHO) responsible for implementing the court’s direction under the supervision of DGPs and the Chief Secretary.
The court also noted that a smog tower installed in Delhi as per an earlier order was not working, and directed the government to ensure that it is repaired.
The top court has also directed Rajasthan and others to follow its earlier order on firecrackers during the festive season. The court has directed Rajasthan to take steps to curtail air pollution, especially during the festival, adding that it is everyone's duty to manage pollution.
The matter has been posted for hearing again on Friday.
This comes as Delhi and adjoining areas reel under a severe pollution crisis with the air quality not showing substantial improvement for over a week now. In an earlier hearing, the top court issued notices to five states on the matter of stubble burning and held it primarily responsible for pollution in the national capital region.
Even as the Delhi government implemented strict measures to curtail pollution including curbs on entry of vehicles, and construction work, ordered the closure of schools except for Class 11 and 12 and enforced the Odd-Even rule, the overall air quality index in the national capital only saw a marginal improvement as the region stayed blanketed by toxic haze.