Delhi Pollution: This Is A National Capital, What Message Are We Sending To The World, Asks SC
Supreme Court?told the government that it cannot micromanage the actions taken by state governments to stop stubble burning, and emphasized that the government should use statistical models and adopt scientific methods to curb air pollution in Delhi.?
The top court was hearing a plea seeking directions to provide stubble-removing machines to small and marginal farmers for free.
"Go to the field"
Pulling up the Centre for not coming up with a solution to stubble burning, the court said: "We are using common sense to discuss the issues. What is the central and state bureaucracy doing? Why can't they go to the fields, talk to farmers and scientists and devise a permanent solution to prevent stubble burning."
The top court said the Centre should prepare a scientific model based on data from the last five years to determine the average air pollution levels in different seasons every year and take steps prior to the anticipated days of "severe air pollution" to prevent worsening of ambient air quality.
The SC bench of Chief Justice NV Ramana, Justice DY Chandrachud and Surya Kant said the court is very concerned about the critical levels of air pollution in Delhi and pointed out that the air quality index continues to be over 300, which is hazardous.
Not going to close the case
"We are not going to close this matter. We will continue the matter...almost every day or alternate day," said the bench, making clear its intention that the court wants to see effective implementation of the steps to combat the menace of air pollution.
Justice Chandrachud said this is a national capital and severe air pollution levels do not send good signals across the globe.
He told the Centre not to concentrate on ad-hoc arrangements -- street cleaning through machines, anti- smog guns, dust management, etc., -- rather the air quality commission should conduct some scientific study to reduce air pollution.
The Chief Justice queried, has there been any study on how much stubble is removed in Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh? He suggested the stubble can be taken to Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh, where it can be used as fodder for cattle.
Use stubble as fodder
The bench suggested if the Govardhan model is implemented, stubble from these states can be given to states where there is fodder scarcity.
Offline classes to resume
Meanwhile, the Delhi government on Wednesday said that physical classes, which were suspended due to the rise in air pollution will resume from November 29 as the AQI has improved.
Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai also said that all government offices in the national capital will open from Monday and that, the staff advised to use public transport.?
He also added that only CNG and electric vehicles will be allowed to enter Delhi from Saturday and the rest will be banned till December 3.
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