New Delhi: The Supreme Court has once again pulled up the governments of Punjab and Haryana for failing to enforce stricter measures to prevent stubble burning, which continues to aggravate air pollution in Delhi and surrounding areas. During a recent hearing, the court expressed frustration over the lack of prosecutions despite clear violations of environmental laws, remarking that the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has remained largely ineffective.
A bench led by Justice A.S. Oka pointed out that neither state has taken sufficient punitive action. Justice Oka slammed the Punjab government for its failure to prosecute offenders, asking, “Why are you shy of prosecuting people?” This came after it was revealed that only nominal fines had been imposed, with no substantial legal actions initiated against violators. The court warned of contempt proceedings if both states did not comply with its directives within a week.
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Haryana’s Chief Secretary, Mr. Prasad, was summoned to provide clarity on his state’s actions, but the court criticized the inconsistencies in his affidavit, which showed a gap between reported incidents of stubble burning and FIRs filed. Despite appointing over 5,000 nodal officers, the court found that real progress was missing, stating that meetings alone would not solve the problem.
Environmentalists have long warned that the seasonal practice of stubble burning, particularly in Punjab and Haryana, significantly contributes to Delhi’s hazardous air quality levels each winter. The Supreme Court made it clear that superficial penalties and administrative meetings will not suffice, urging immediate and more stringent action.
