New Delhi : The Supreme Court Friday said it wants fires to be stopped, air quality should be improved and the government, Centre and states, take long term measures – having rice replaced by something else – and stressed that the court cannot allow people to suffer from air pollution. On overnight rains in the capital and surrounding areas, the apex court said “God may have heard the prayers of people and intervened, no thanks to the government”.
A bench led by Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul told the Attorney General R Venkataramani and counsel, representing various state governments, that government officials are meeting but nothing happening on the ground level to address air pollution in the capital and questioned government’s counsel, why things only move when the court intervenes?
Referring to the overnight rain in Delhi and surrounding areas, Justice Kaul said, “The people have to pray only, sometimes wind comes and helps, and sometimes rains."
“God may have heard the prayers of people and intervened, no thanks to the government,” added Justice Kaul.
The bench, also comprising justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Ahsanuddin Amanullah, questioned whether the Centre is ready to bear 50% cost of stubble clearing machines? The bench emphasized that registering FIR for farm fires is not the solution and the approach should be financial and include some incentive. The bench reiterated on phasing out paddy from Punjab gradually, while pointing out that the water table in Punjab is going down.
The bench suggested that anybody who is involved in farm fire should not get MSP next year, “something like this has to be done as a curative measure….everybody’s children suffer there has to be some incentive….or attach their properties for one year….”. Justice Kaul said that he leaves it open to governments -- on having a carrot and stick approach -- otherwise they will say the apex court ordered attachment.