Supreme Court raps Commission for Air Quality Management over pollution, stubble burning

The Supreme Court Friday rapped the Commission for Air Quality Management over its failure to curb air pollution due to crop residue burning. A bench of Justice Abha S Oka and Justice Augustine George Masih said the air quality panel needs to be more active in its approach.

The top court said efforts are needed to ensure that stubble-burning alternative equipment are used at the grassroots level. It directed the panel to file a better compliance report.

The onset of the Kharif harvesting season has once again introduced a recurring issue for Punjab and Haryana – stubble burning, which contaminates the air and creates a public health crisis for Delhi-NCR annually. On Monday, the Supreme Court requested responses from the Commission for Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region and surrounding areas regarding stubble burning. The matter is anticipated to be addressed on Friday. Last year, the Supreme Court emphasized the necessity of controlling stubble burning and underscored the importance of judicial oversight to prevent recurrence.