SC issues dire mandates to tackle Stubble burning & air pollution in Delhi | Fusion - WeRIndia

In a decisive move to combat the persistent problem of stubble burning and the ensuing air pollution in Delhi, the Supreme Court of India has posed critical questions to the Punjab government.

The bench, comprised of Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Sudhanshu Dhulia, issued directives.

They aimed at urgently halting stubble burning, recognizing the ongoing suffering of Delhi’s residents due to the lack of a viable solution.

For half a decade, the issue of stubble burning has plagued the region, necessitating immediate action and judicial oversight.

The court has extended its directives to the states bordering Delhi-NCR and others, insisting they take immediate measures to curtail air pollution.

Additionally, the court emphasized the need for local Station House Officers (SHOs) to oversee and take responsibility for addressing stubble burning.

During the court proceedings, it was underscored that the problem should not be politicized, emphasizing the urgency of addressing it without political discord.

The court raised concerns about the cultivation of paddy in Punjab, especially considering the region’s already dwindling water tables.

The bench questioned the rationale behind growing paddy in Punjab when water resources are scarce.

The Attorney General, on behalf of Punjab, suggested that the Minimum Support Price (MSP) on paddy crops in the state incentivizes marginal farmers to opt for this water-intensive crop.

He indicated that if the MSP were to be removed, farmers might naturally switch to less water-dependent alternatives.

Acknowledging this suggestion, the Supreme Court emphasized the need to evaluate whether the cultivation of paddy, which leads to stubble burning, should continue during the existing time frame.

Moreover, the court noted that the economic situation has forced farmers to resort to burning stubble, as alternatives have not been effectively implemented.

In response to this, Punjab offered to bear 25% of the cost of machines designed to handle stubble waste, with the Delhi government and the Center sharing the remaining 75%.

The Supreme Court endorsed this proposal, highlighting that if the government can allocate substantial funds for subsidies, it should also support such critical endeavours.

Furthermore, the court advocated for the replacement of paddy with native, water-efficient crops, especially in light of the Center’s efforts to transition to millets.

The apex court urged all stakeholders to take swift action and called for a meeting to address these pressing concerns.

In addition, it underscored that adherence to the Food Security Act by Punjab has contributed to problems and should be examined.

The court also criticized the non-functional smog tower installed in Delhi and called for its repair.

Lastly, it dismissed schemes like ‘odd-even’ as mere “optics” and called for stricter monitoring of orange-tagged vehicles to ensure only Delhi-registered taxis operate during the current period.

Image Credit: Pinakpani, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Image Reference: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Inside_the_Supreme_Court_of_India._11.jpg