Supreme Court’s Stinging Remark: Delhi Air Pollution is a Murder of Public Health

The Supreme Court has issued a strong order to address the air pollution crisis in Delhi, emphasizing that it should not be treated as a political issue. The court stated that the deteriorating air quality is causing harm to people’s health and referred to the burning of crop residue in Punjab and Haryana as a major contributor to Delhi’s pollution during winter. The court directed the Punjab government to take immediate action to stop stubble burning, stating that it is their responsibility to find a solution.

The Delhi government was also held accountable by the court, which highlighted the pollution caused by buses running at half capacity. The court scheduled the matter for further discussion on Friday and instructed the central government to organize a meeting with the governments of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, and Delhi to explore ways to address stubble burning. Vehicular emissions were also identified as a key factor contributing to Delhi’s air pollution.

The case before the court focused on the hazardous air quality in the national capital, which has been classified as “severe” in recent days. The Central Pollution Control Board reported that several areas in Delhi had an Air Quality Index (AQI) of over 400, four times higher than the acceptable level.

Advocate Aparajita Singh, representing the petitioner, highlighted the unchecked farm fires in Punjab and identified stubble burning as the main cause of Delhi’s air pollution. The court expressed its concern and emphasized that the situation in Delhi cannot continue like this. Senior Advocate Gopal Shankaranarayan, also representing the petitioners, noted that the case has been ongoing since 2017 with several orders already issued.

The court also urged Punjab and the central government to explore alternative crops to paddy, as it is contributing to the depletion of the state’s water table. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which governs both Delhi and Punjab, now faces a challenging situation. While they claim that stubble burning in Punjab has decreased, they have shifted blame to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled Haryana. Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai accused the BJP of scapegoating Punjab and failing to ban diesel buses in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana.

The BJP criticized the Arvind Kejriwal government, questioning the effectiveness of the odd-even scheme and other measures taken to tackle air pollution in the capital. The Delhi BJP president criticized the scheme as a publicity stunt without any scientific basis.

Farmers resort to burning crop residue due to time constraints before the winter sowing season. It is the quickest and cheapest way to clear the fields for new crops. The alternative options of hiring laborers or using machines require significant financial resources.

The Supreme Court’s order highlights the urgent need to address the air pollution crisis in Delhi and calls for immediate action from the governments of Punjab, Haryana, and Delhi. The meeting scheduled between the central government and the concerned states is expected to explore effective solutions to stubble burning and vehicular emissions.