New Delhi: Amidst rising pollution levels in Delhi and NCR regions, the Supreme Court (SC) on Friday appointed retired Justice Madan B Lokur to monitor stubble burning in Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.
The three-judge bench, comprising Chief Justice SA Bobde and included Justices A S Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian, directed the court-appointed Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) and chief secretaries of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab to assist the one-man Lokur committee during on-ground surveillance of stubble-burning fields .
“We are only concerned about the citizens of Delhi-NCR being able to breathe in fresh clean air,” the top court said. “The concerned state governments will provide secretarial, security and financial facilities to this committee. The National Cadet Corps, National Service Scheme and Bharat Scouts will also be deployed for assisting the panel. The committee will submit its report to the Supreme Court in 15 days,” the SC added.
The top court rejected the Centre’s request to reconsider setting up of the Lokur panel. “EPCA has been entrusted with the responsibility in this matter. Amicus Curiae has already been appointed,” Solicitor General Tushar Mehta had told the court.
After the SC’s order, Central Pollution Control Board chairman Shiv Das Meena said, “Every year, the problem of pollution in Delhi remains big in winter. We are working to reduce pollution. We are strictly adhering to the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) rules. Action being taken against violators. 50 teams have been sent for on field inspection.”
The next hearing of the case has been set for October 26.
