JOIN USSupreme Court suggests 2-day lockdown to bring down severe air pollution level in Delhi
The Supreme Court on Saturday asked the Centre and the Delhi government to take immediate emergency measures in view of severe air pollution in the National Capital Region.
If needed government can declare a two-day lockdown to bring down pollution levels, which has been caused by stubble burning, vehicles, firecrackers, industries, dust etc, the top court said.
The court asked the Centre and the Delhi government to inform it on November 15, Monday about the measures undertaken to tackle the extremely grim air situation as AQI level crossed 500.
"The situation is very bad…. (even) in house we are wearing masks," a three-judge special bench presided over by Chief Justice N V Ramana said.
“How to control air pollution in Delhi? (Should we impose) two days lockdown or what. How will people live in Delhi," the bench, also comprising Justices D Y Chandrachud and Surya Kant, asked.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, for his part, apprised the court on steps taken by the air quality management commission to abate air pollution in NCR and adjoining areas, which included steps taken to address agricultural stubble burning.
Hearing a 2020 plea by minor boy, Aditya Dubey, the bench, however, said instead of blaming the farmers, all state governments and the Centre should come together to address the air pollution issue. The court stressed that the pollution issue should be handled going beyond politics and governments.
During the hearing, the court also noted that stubble burning by farmers is only responsible for 25 % of the pollution, and the remaining 75 % pollution was from firecracker burning, vehicular pollution, dust etc. For farmers, the problem was incentivisation, the court said, pointing poor farmers can't afford machines to facilitate crop residue management.
"I am a farmer. The CJI is a farmer, we know it," Justice Kant said, seeking to know how many cooperative societies have been sent up and machines procured by them.
“Where is the effective mechanism to control firecrackers, vehicular pollution….look at the pollution level," the bench asked.
Mehta claimed both the Centre and the state governments of Delhi, Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh are working together to address the issue.
"We have nothing to do with governments. We need burning solution, how to control. We need two-three days short term plans to control pollution,” the bench suggested.
The bench also questioned the Delhi government, represented by senior advocate Rahul Mehra, for opening schools exposing young students to toxic airs. The counsel submitted that AQI level was at 84 on September 30 but went beyond 500 due to stubble burning.
"It has now become a fashion to blame farmers. What happened to crackers ban? What is Delhi police doing for last seven to eight days," the bench asked.
The court also cited AIIMS director's remark that it is triple whammy, pollution, Covid, and dengue.
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