Delhi Air Pollution: SC slams Punjab and Haryana for stubble burning, says ‘nothing happening but meetings’

Raising serious concerns regarding the increasing incidents of stubble burning in northern India, especially in Punjab and Haryana, the Supreme Court on Thursday slammed the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) for failure to enforce the panel's own directions regarding air pollution. Stubble burning in the neighbouring states takes a heavy toll on Delhi’s air quality.

The top court stressed that nothing concrete was happening on the ground except meetings.

Stubble burning is the practice of intentionally setting fire to the crop residues that remain after grains, such as rice and wheat, have been harvested.

A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih said CAQM has not launched a single prosecution against incidents of stubble burning in the National Capital Region (NCR) and adjoining areas.

The apex court expressed disappointment over CAQM’s inactivity and pointed out that no meetings had been held post-August 29.

“From the affidavit of compliance, we find that no effort is being made by CAQM for implementation of its own directions, not a single prosecution has been initiated and the last meeting was only held on August 29,” the Supreme Court stated.

The Supreme Court asked, “If the statutory committee does not hold meetings, then who else will do the work of enforcement?”

Slamming Punjab and Haryana, the apex court said the two state governments have only exacted nominal compensation from the farmers who were found burning stubble. The court emphasised that mere penalties would not deter offenders unless enforcement is tightened.

It is important to note that only ₹1.25 lakh had been collected as Environmental Cess from erring farmers.

"For different reasons, they do not want to prosecute anybody, it is the problem as simple as that. They do not want to take penal action but only hold meetings. We are not ready to see whether the machines are being used. The harsh reality is except meetings, nothing is happening. Let us face it," India Today reported the apex court as saying.

The Supreme Court directed Punjab and Haryana to comply with CAQM directions and to file an affidavit within a week.

The case has been posted for the next hearing on October 16.