¡®Environment laws toothless¡¯, Supreme Court on failure to penalise stubble burning

The Supreme Court on Wednesday pulled up the Centre for making the environment protection law ¡°toothless¡±, as Delhi and NCR continue to battle worsening air quality levels. The SC noted that the provision under the CAQM Act which deals with penalties for stubble burning was not being implemented.

CREDIT: BCCL

'Laws as toothless'

A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka, Ahsanuddin Amanullah, and Augustine George Masih said the Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Act of 2021 (CAQM Act) was enacted without creating the required machinery for implementing the provision to curb air pollution.

Regulations will be issued in 10 days: Govt

Appearing for the Centre, Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati informed the SC that section 15 of the CAQM Act, which deals with penalties for stubble burning, will be implemented effectively as regulations for it will be issued in 10 days.

She submitted that an adjudicating officer will be appointed and all necessary actions will be taken to enforce the law effectively.

CREDIT: BCCL

Bhati pointed out that the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has issued notices to senior administrative officials of Punjab and Haryana, besides officials of the state pollution control boards, and sought their response as to why action should not be taken against them.

Last week, the SC had pulled up the Punjab and Haryana governments over the non-prosecution of violators found guilty of stubble burning.

Delhi's air quality remains very poor

The developments come as the air quality in Delhi and adjoining areas continues to remain very poor. The air quality is expected to deteriorate further in the coming days.

CREDIT: REUTERS

Air pollution will increase: Rai

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Wednesday said that the winds are moving in the northwest direction, which could increase the pollution levels in the national capital territory (NCT) due to stubble burning in neighbouring states.

"As per the information given by the Meteorological department, the winds are now moving in the northwest direction. The effect of stubble burning from Haryana and Punjab will be more visible in Delhi. We have put all our departments on alert mode given the increase in pollution levels," Rai said.

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