SC slams CAQM, says it made no effort to stop stubble burning

"ACTION REQUIRED, NOT MEETINGS TO CURB POLLUTION'"

- AAISHA SABIR

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court, on Thursday, slammed the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) for its failure to control stubble burning in the National Capital Region (NCR) and neighbouring states like Punjab and Haryana. Despite a clear directive from the court, the Commission has not taken sufficient action to curb the environmental hazard caused by burning agricultural residues, which is a major contributor to the region's air pollution crisis.

During a hearing on Thursday, a three-judge bench consisting of Justices Abhay S Oka, Ahsanuddin Amanullah, and Augustine George Masih expressed disappointment in the CAQM's lack of progress. The court highlighted that the Commission had only held meetings but failed to implement its directives at the grassroots level, particularly by not prosecuting any violators under the Environment Protection Act.

The bench also underscored that no substantial action had been taken by the state governments of Punjab and Haryana, aside from collecting nominal compensation from farmers found engaging in stubble burning. The court pointed out that from September 15 to 30, 2024, there were 129 reported cases of stubble burning in Punjab and 81 in Haryana, yet neither state has adequately enforced CAQM's directives to curb these incidents.