Air Pollution: Supreme Court Directs States To Take Steps, Submit Progress Report

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh governments to continuously monitor steps to control stubble burning.

The top court, which was hearing petitions to curb air pollution, took cognizance of the National Capital Region (NCR) Committee’s report.

Justice SK Kaul also asked the states to submit a progress report within a month.

He said an affidavit of Punjab government, dated December 6, states 53% of fines (environmental compensation) imposed have been recovered, and farm fire counts between September 15 and November 20 have been reduced in 2023, as compared to 2020.

“The farm fire counts are still very significant… Let us endeavour to reduce pollution,” Justice Kaul observed.

“We must have a regular meeting of the committee of secretaries chaired by the cabinet secretary. So far, five meetings have been held to chalk out actions that can be undertaken by the Punjab and Haryana governments,” the court said.

The court cited the NCR Committee report and said it was the responsibility of all state governments to ensure that the law was implemented.