Top court appoints ex-judge to monitor stubble burning

The court said that it is concerned about the possibility of pollution from stubble burning and people in Delhi and NCR must get fresh and clear air to breathe.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has appointed a one-man monitoring committee comprising of former SC judge Justice Madan B Lokur to prevent stubble burning in the states of Haryana and Punjab. It has asked the Chief Secretaries of the respective states, NCC, NSS and Bharat scouts and guides to assist the committee.

The court said that it is concerned about the possibility of pollution from stubble burning and people in Delhi and NCR must get fresh and clear air to breathe.

The bench led by Chief Justice SA Bobde was hearing a plea which sought directions to the state governments to ensure a complete ban on the stubble burning.

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Judges observed on Friday that despite several measures taken by the governments there is a reported increase in the stubble burning to alleviate pollution and accepted the proposal of a monitoring committee.

The court was informed that there is a mobile application which enables officers to look into end to end reporting of stubble burning.

Punjab filed an affidavit in the court but Haryana failed to do so.

Haryana informed the court that the issue is being tackled and it has reduced.

Punjab said that it is monitoring the situation as 8,000 nodal officers have been appointed and authority has been constituted to work full time on the issue. The issue is being monitored since 5-6 years and a committee of 15 members has already been filing reports before the top court, added the lawyer appearing for Punjab.

CJI questioned the Centre if it can ensure that the problem would not go out of hand till the court reopens to which Centre responded by saying that EPCA is tackling the issue and case can be taken up on the first day of reopening of court.

The matter is likely to be heard on November 23.

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