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.
"We want farm fires stopped, we want the air quality to go up, we want you to take long term measures. How to have this rice replaced by something else…..”, said justice Kaul.
The bench told the AG, “If the governments want it, Centre or state, it will happen. If you are lackadaisical about it, it won’t happen”. The AG said it is not only the Union government but all state governments. The bench said, “So all governments are responsible. We are only interested in seeing it occurs…..if it does not occur then the only option will be to have your chief secretaries here, concerned secretaries here (in the court). Keep them here till they find a solution. We don’t want to do that. I am sure they can do their work better…Please find a solution”.
A counsel, representing one of the petitioners, said the National Green Tribunal noted that the whole of Punjab is red (due to farm fires). The bench told Advocate General of Punjab Gurminder Singh “implementation of restraint of fire is something which is not being done by the Punjab government…”. Singh replied that the task is being taken on war footing and the state is taking all measures against farm fires and policemen are responsible through the SHO and they are extinguishing fire wherever detected.
The apex court was hearing a plea in connection with severe air pollution in the national capital. The court will continue to hear the matter on November 21.
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Delhi: Overnight rain brings relief from air pollution caused by stubble burning
