The Supreme Court took suo motu hearing on Friday regarding the continuously deteriorating air quality and increasing pollution in Delhi-NCR. During this, the court sought answers from the central government and concerned agencies on the steps being taken to control pollution.
A bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant said that despite all the measures, the level of pollution in Delhi continues to be worrisome. The court questioned why the situation is not improving despite efforts to stop pollution?
During the hearing, Justice Aparajita Singh said that the pollution level in Delhi is still around the severe category. Because of this, even people's voices are being affected. He expressed concern that on November 5, stubble burning contributed 14 percent to Delhi's pollution, while smoke from vehicles was one of the biggest problems. He also said that garbage burning and traffic pressure are increasing pollution in NCR.
CJI Surya Kant described the heavy movement of vehicles on the roads of Delhi as well as Ghaziabad, Gurugram, Faridabad and Greater Noida as the main problem. He said that vehicles registered in other states also enter Delhi. In such a situation, monitoring only the entry points is not enough. The court asked why pollution is increasing despite the ban on BS-4 vehicles and other measures?
On the issue of stubble burning, the court also took serious note of the financial problems of the farmers. The amicus curiae said that the use of stubble removal machines is expensive for small farmers. The price of diesel and the cost of operating the machines are also a big hurdle.
On this, the Supreme Court suggested that machines should be made available to Gram Panchayats, so that many farmers can use them jointly. The court also suggested that the government should make arrangements to purchase stubble from farmers like wheat, so that they get economic benefits and the tendency to burn stubble reduces.
Concerns were also raised in the hearing about the impact of pollution on children's health and education. Justice Joymalya Bagchi said that closing schools or implementing online education is not an easy solution, as poor children depend on schools even for mid-day meals. The amicus curiae said that children's lungs are more sensitive to pollution.
The court asked the central government to intensify public awareness campaigns and adopt effective scientific measures to control pollution. Also, compliance reports and latest information will be sought from the concerned states. The Supreme Court clarified that the case will be heard again soon after the Diwali holidays.