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SC issues strict directives to Delhi, neighbouring states as smog intensifies
As the Air Quality Index in Delhi continues to worsen, the state government is planning to bring artificial rain in the city to combat hazardous air pollution
Smog engulfs the Capital / X/@D_RanawatNaruka
Observing that reducing the capital's suffocating levels of pollution should not be pushed into the political crosshairs, the Supreme Court has directed the Centre, the Delhi Government, and the States surrounding it that are adding to the pollution woes by burning paddy stubbles to take immediate steps to improve air quality.
A Division Bench of S.K. Kaul and Sudhanshu Dhulia issued the directions while hearing a PIL bringing to its attention severe levels of air toxicity in the city. The Bench advised the Centre to convene a meeting with the governments of Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana to devise plans to put an end to stubble burning in these states.
"We want it (stubble burning) stopped. We don't know how you do it, it's your job. But it must be stopped. Something has to be done immediately," the top court told the Punjab government. Since paddy requires a lot of water, it is harvested and then burned, contributing significantly to air pollution in the nation's capital, it also directed the Union and Punjab governments to investigate alternatives to the paddy crop.
However, as vehicular pollution is also a major contributing factor, the court also questioned the effectiveness of the Delhi government’s Odd-Even scheme in bringing down pollution. Started in 2016, the odd-even system, allows vehicles with plate numbers ending in an even digit (0, 2, 4, 6, 8) to operate on even dates, while those ending in odd digits (1, 3, 5, 7, 9) to operate on odd dates.
Meanwhile, as the Air Quality Index in the city continues to worsen, the state government is planning to bring artificial rain to combat hazardous air pollution after Diwali. The Directorate of Education has ordered the advance of the winter break for all the schools in the capital.
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