"Mere Eyewash": Supreme Court Raps Punjab, Haryana Over Stubble Burning

The Supreme Court grilled the central - and Punjab and Haryana - governments Wednesday as arguments over states' non-compliance with, and failure to enforce, anti-pollution measures, rolled into yet another hearing, even as Delhi AQI is 'very poor'.

Oct 23, 2024 - 04:00
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"Mere Eyewash": Supreme Court Raps Punjab, Haryana Over Stubble Burning

The Supreme Court grilled the central - and Punjab and Haryana - governments Wednesday as arguments over states' non-compliance with, and failure to enforce, anti-pollution measures, rolled into yet another hearing, even as air quality in Delhi and the national capital region remains 'very poor' and prompts concern over the risk of increased respiratory diseases.

A bench of Justice Abhay S Oka, Justice A Amanullah, and Justice AG Masih, dismissed as "mere eyewash" the Punjab and Haryana governments' efforts to stamp out farm fires - i.e., farmers burning agricultural waste - that contribute to toxic air smothering Delhi annually.

The top court also rapped the union government over "toothless" environmental protection laws, pointing out that Section 15 of the Environmental Protection Act, which covers penalties for violating the law, had amended so "procedure for imposing penalty cannot be followed".