New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday (February 3) directed the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to hold a meeting with the state governments of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh on the proposed action plans to tackle the stubble burning issue .
A bench comprising Justice Abhay S Oka and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan was hearing a matter related to air pollution in the National Capital Region (NCR).
Apex court directed CAQM to submit its suggestions by March 17
The bench directed CAQM to consult Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh and submit its suggestions by March 17 and it will issue directions on the basis of the said suggestions on March 28.
What did the state of Punjab submit?
Senior advocate Rahul Mehra, who represented the Punjab government, submitted before the bench that farmers have to be convinced that crop diversification was a viable option, minimum support price (MSP) has to be given to farmers and procure policy has to be there. _
Punjab advocate general Gurminder Singh submitted before the bench that the Punjab government supported steps for eradicating stubble burning but there is need to take into account other factors that added to pollution within Delhi.
“We have data on Air Quality Index (AQI) of Delhi after November 15 which was the last day the fire incident was reported and thereafter the AQI in Delhi touched 400 and in January it is continuing….we are committed to eradicating stubble burning but how much are we contributing as a state, if your lordships can just take a call on that,” Singh said.
The bench, during the hearing, also noted that Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Haryana were non-compliant on providing minimum support amount to daily wagers while halting constructions and directed the chief secretaries of the three states to remain present via video-conferencing on February 28.
Apex court is monitoring air pollution issue
The apex court is monitoring the air pollution issue in Delhi-NCR and has expressed its concerns on several occasions earlier while hearing the matter. It earlier said that permanent solutions needed to be found with respect to stubble burning and various other factors that cause pollution and it wants to go into all aspects of causes of pollution and will try to find out a permanent solution.
