Stubble burning: Supreme Court pulls up Air Quality Commission

New Delhi: The Supreme Court today pulled up the Air Quality Management Commission (CAQM) for failing to curb air pollution in Delhi due to stubble burning in neighbouring states adjoining the National Capital Region, including Punjab and Haryana.

The apex court said the commission needs to adopt a more proactive approach to resolve the issue. Expressing displeasure over the steps taken by the Commission to control pollution, a bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih said the CAQM should exercise the powers conferred on it to manage air quality under the National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Act, 2021.

The bench posted the matter for further hearing on October 3 and asked the commission to file an action taken report by then.

Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhatti, appearing for the Centre, told the court about the guidelines issued by the government to prevent stubble burning. The apex court, however, brushed aside these arguments and said, “All the talk is in the air, nothing has been shown about what has been done in the states adjoining the National Capital Region (NCR).”

CAQM’s Delhi National Capital Territory Chairman Rajesh Verma, who was present virtually during the hearing, told the bench that he had held a meeting with the Deputy Commissioners of Punjab and Haryana on the incidents related to stubble burning.

During the hearing on September 24, the apex court had asked the CAQM to give details of the steps taken to curb pollution caused by stubble burning in the NCR and adjoining areas.