The Supreme Court has termed the rise in air pollution in Delhi-NCR an “emergency” situation and asked the Centre and the Delhi government to take emergency measures to improve the air quality.
A bench headed by Chief Justice N V Ramana said the situation of pollution is so bad that people are wearing masks inside their houses.
SC observes that now it has become a fashion to bash the farmers whether it’s Delhi govt or someone else. There was ban on firecrackers, what happened with that?
“Everybody has the passion of blaming farmers. Have you seen how crackers are being burnt in Delhi for the last seven days? It is an emergency situation, multiple measures are needed to be taken on the ground level,” the bench, also comprising Justices D Y Chandrachud and Surya Kant, said.
The Supreme Court had posted for 15th November the hearing on the plea, asks Centre to inform the Court about the steps taken to control air pollution
The top court also took note of the fact that schools have opened in the national capital and asked the authorities to take immediate measures such as stopping vehicles or imposing a lockdown in Delhi.
In query directed to The Delhi government, SC said You have opened all schools in the national capital and now children are exposed to pollutants. This is not the Centre’s but your jurisdiction. What is happening on that front?
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, said there is stubble burning in Punjab.
The bench, however, said, “Your projection is as if farmers are only responsible. What about steps taken to contain the pollution in Delhi?
Mehta clarified that he was not even remotely suggesting that only farmers are responsible. Further, SG tells SC that stubble can be a part of the problem but not the only reason,
