air pollution in delhi
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday rapped the Haryana and Punjab governments for not following its earlier order amid rising levels of air pollution. The court warned that if its order was not followed, contempt action would be taken against the Chief Secretary of Haryana. The Supreme Court asked why the state was reluctant to prosecute people who burn stubble and let them off by imposing nominal fines.
Supreme Court gave one week’s time to Haryana
The Supreme Court reprimanded the Haryana government and said that we are telling you very clearly. We are giving you a week’s time and if it is not followed then we will file a contempt case against the Chief Secretary. Why do you shy away from prosecuting people? On this, Haryana’s lawyer told the Supreme Court that we have filed about 17 FIRs this year.
Chief Secretary of Haryana was called for appearance
The court said that no member of the commission is qualified to deal with air pollution matters. Our orders were not followed. Not a single case has yet been filed against those who violate the law. Everything is only on paper. In the case of failure to ban stubble burning, the Supreme Court ordered the Chief Secretary of Haryana to appear in the court during the next hearing on Wednesday.
The Supreme Court told the Haryana government that you are charging only nominal fine. ISRO is telling you where the fire started and you say you did not find anything. There were 191 violation cases and you only charged a nominal fine. The instructions given by the Commission under the NCT Area Act were completely disregarded.
Haryana admitted its mistake
Haryana government’s lawyer said that I accept the mistake or mistake committed on my part. On this the Supreme Court said that this is not a political matter. If the Chief Secretary is working on someone’s instructions then we will issue summons against him also. Nothing was done on our orders.
Supreme Court also reprimanded Punjab
The Supreme Court reprimanded the Punjab government and said that the Punjab government also did not do anything on the order to ban stubble burning. Punjab has not prosecuted even a single person for the last three years. Only nominal fine is being imposed. Nothing was done. The Supreme Court told the Punjab government that paddy straw is being burnt and you do not want to do anything under the Air Pollution Prevention Act 1981. The air is continuously getting polluted.
The court asked these questions
The Supreme Court asked the Punjab Government whether this conduct of yours can be justified? Last time you said that the Central Government is not listening to you? Today we see that you have not given a single proposal for tractor and diesel? The Supreme Court asked the lawyer of Punjab government, have you mentioned your needs anywhere to the Centre? How will the Center understand? This is an attempt by your Chief Secretary to mislead the Supreme Court. Our orders have been completely disregarded. You are defending a false statement.
Punjab government gave this answer
Counsel for the Punjab government said that it is practically very difficult to follow the court’s instructions at the ground level. Last time people had misbehaved with our officers.
The Supreme Court said on this that you mean let the people suffer from air pollution because the state is not able to comply with it.
Chief Secretary of Punjab summoned
The Supreme Court has also ordered the Chief Secretary of the Punjab Government to appear personally in the court for the hearing on next Wednesday, October 23, for failing to ban stubble burning.
Order for action against responsible officials of Haryana and Punjab
The Supreme Court ordered the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to take action against the officials of Haryana and Punjab who did not follow the court order. Let us tell you that every year there is no breathable air in Delhi-NCR. In Punjab and Haryana, stubble is burnt indiscriminately.
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