New-Delhi: Amid ‘Severe’ air pollution in Delhi, the Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the Punjab government to stop the stubble burning in the state.
The top court observed that there cannot be a political fighting all the time. “We want it (stubble burning) stopped. We don’t know how you do it, it’s your job. But it must be stopped. Something has to be done immediately,” Supreme Court told the Punjab government.
The apex court also directed the states of Punjab, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan to stop stubble burning “forthwith”.
The overall air quality of Delhi was recorded in the ‘very poor’ category with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 399 on Tuesday, according to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR)-India.
SC noted that a smog tower installed as per an earlier order is not working, and directs the government to ensure it is repaired.
Supreme Court asks Chief Secretaries if the States to have a meeting either physically or by Zoom on the pollution issue.
The Supreme Court observes that schemes like odd-even for vehicles to tackle pollution issue are mere optics.