SC cracks down on Delhi-NCR pollution; Seeks report from Punjab, Haryana

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday took a tough stance on the air pollution in Delhi-NCR, which has reached dangerous levels. The court sought detailed information from the Punjab and Haryana governments on the steps taken to control stubble burning. The court said that both states must respond to prevent the situation from worsening. A bench comprising Chief Justice B.R. Gavai, Justices K. Vinod Chandran, and N.V. Anjaria heard the case and decided to hear it again on November 17. The apex court stated that if stubble burning is not immediately controlled, the situation will worsen. Senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan argued that GRAP-III is currently in effect, but considering the level of pollution, GRAP-IV should be implemented. Impact on the NCR's Air Amicus Curiae Aparajita Singh informed the court that large-scale stubble burning is occurring in Punjab and Haryana. Citing NASA satellite images, he said that the smoke emanating from these two states is further toxicizing the air in Delhi-NCR. He said that the Supreme Court's orders are being blatantly ignored. Questions on Monitoring System The Supreme Court also sought an affidavit from the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) regarding what concrete steps have been taken so far to curb pollution. The court stated that monitoring stations are not functioning properly, hampering the implementation of GRAP. On Diwali day, only 9 out of 37 monitoring stations were operational. Court's Warning The Supreme Court clarified that pollution control requires pre-emptive, not reactive, measures. The court urged state governments and the commission to work together to ensure that air quality in Delhi-NCR does not deteriorate further. The court said that this is not the time for mere paperwork, but for visible action on the ground.