SUPREME COURT TO HEAR PLEA ON INCREASING AIR POLLUTION IN DELHI-NCR ON 10th NOVEMBER

The Supreme Court agreed on Friday to hear a plea seeking steps to combat rising air pollution in Delhi-NCR on November 10. After an advocate sought an urgent hearing, a bench of Chief Justice of India UU Lalit and Bela M Trivedi scheduled a hearing on November 10. The petitioner, advocate Shashank Shekhar Jha, informed the bench that stubble burning had escalated in Punjab. "Parali burning has increased in Punjab. Even normal people can`t walk in such a situation," Jha argued.

The petition sought that the Chief Secretaries of Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh be summoned and individually held responsible for no cases of stubble-burning anywhere.

It asked direction for giving new guidelines on stubble burning to all states. The plea requested that guidelines be sent to each and every state to take the required measures to minimise pollution, with measures such as the installation of smog towers, plantation drives, economical public transportation, and so on.

"Public at large is forced to inhale polluted air and the oxygen filled with smog. Despite the clear orders of this Court to stop stubble burning and construction causing air pollution, there is rampant pollution in the National Capital Territory and other places making it difficult for people to survive," said the plea adding that the situation is directly against the Right to life of people at large.

According to the petition, the AQI level in Delhi on November 3 was between 440 and 460, which "affects healthy people and seriously impacts those with existing diseases."

An AQI of 400 or above is considered "severe," and it can harm both healthy people and those who are already ill, according to the report.

It sought guidance on forming a high-level group led by a retired Supreme Court judge to address the air-pollution crisis caused by stubble burning.

The petition also urged schools, colleges, government, and private offices to go virtual/online in order to protect the lives of the general public.

According to the advocate, pollution is caused because states like Punjab have failed to give farmers with an alternative to stubble burning to keep pollution under control.