Source : PTI | NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday pulled up the commission for air quality management (CAQM) for Delhi NCR over the issue of stubble burning and said that the panel is not taking steps to curb pollution and manage air quality which has brought the region “on the verge of a serious problem”.
A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and AG Masih said that the air quality panel did not form any committee for monitoring the air quality.
“How many directions have been passed under section 12? What action has the committee for safeguarding and enforcement taken? Has any direction helped in curing the problem? The same thing happens every year. The issue of serious pollution. Is it coming down?” the apex court asked.
During the hearing, CAQM chairman Rajesh Verma informed the top court that the panel meets once every three months.
‘Efforts needed to ensure stubble burning alternative equipment are used at grassroots level,” the bench said.
“Since the authority has been constituted three years ago you stand not that all the orders have been complied with. Unless you take action under section 14 for non-compliance the directions will remain on paper,” the bench followed up.
The top court also directed the CAQM to file a better compliance report and post the matter for a hearing on Thursday, October 3.
Earlier, the apex court asked the panel to explain the steps being taken to curb air pollution due to crop residue burning.
Senior advocate Aprajita Singh, who is assisting the court as amicus curiae, referred to some newspaper reports and said it appears that stubble burning has started in neighbouring states of Delhi.
She urged the court to seek an explanation from the CAQM on what steps are being taken to curb air pollution caused by stubble burning and what steps are being taken to fix accountability on officials responsible for checking the burning of paddy straw under the CAQM Act.
