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Journalism of Courage
The Supreme Court Wednesday asked the governments of Punjab and Haryana to explain the steps they are taking to prevent stubble burning, which contributes to air pollution in the national capital.
“We direct the state of Punjab and Haryana to file a report on what steps are being taken to curb stubble burning,” a bench of Chief Justice of India B R Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran ordered while hearing matters related to air pollution in Delhi-NCR.
Senior Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, who appeared for some of the applicants, pointed out that Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) III was in place but the situation was such that GRAP IV had to be implemented.
He said that construction activities were continuing in many areas despite the Air Quality Index (AQI) crossing 450.
Amicus Curiae Senior Advocate Aparajita Singh urged the court to hear the matter in detail urgently, if possible on Thursday, as the situation “is reaching a hazardous state”.
She also referred to farmers in Punjab who time their stubble burning in such a manner as to avoid detection by satellites.
“There is a NASA scientist; he says that the crop is burnt after the satellite passes away. He has analysed through European and Korean satellites, and he has said that they have delayed the burning of the crops in tune with the passing of the satellite,” she said.
She cited news reports from farmers stating that officials had advised them on how to avoid satellite detection, and if that is the case, the data on stubble burning may not be accurate.
She said the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) should respond to this. “I am only asking the CAQM to respond….because if this is true, it is alarming, then their count is also not the real count.”
The court said it will hear the matter on November 17.
