New Delhi, Feb 3 (PTI) – The Supreme Court on Monday instructed the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to hold discussions with the governments of Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh regarding proposed strategies to combat the persistent issue of stubble burning.
A bench comprising Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan directed CAQM to consult with these states, formulate its own recommendations, and submit suggestions to the court by March 17.
Senior advocate Rahul Mehra, representing the Punjab government, emphasized the need to persuade farmers that crop diversification is a viable alternative. He pointed out that the Minimum Support Price (MSP) and assured procurement policies favor paddy cultivation, unlike maize and other crops, which lack a structured procurement framework.
Punjab Advocate General Gurminder Singh reiterated the state government's commitment to eliminating stubble burning but urged the court to consider other pollution factors contributing to Delhi’s deteriorating air quality. He cited data showing that after November 15—the last reported stubble-burning incident—the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi continued to exceed 400, persisting into January.
Addressing concerns about providing a minimum support amount to daily wagers affected by halted construction activities, the court noted that Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, and Haryana had failed to comply with previous orders. It directed the chief secretaries of these states to be present via video conferencing.
Previously, the Supreme Court criticized Punjab and Haryana for their slow response in curbing stubble burning and emphasized the need for a long-term solution, including the establishment of a mechanism for real-time data monitoring. The court had also mandated the use of geostationary satellites, instead of NASA’s polar-orbiting satellites, to enhance real-time surveillance of farm fires.
The Centre had earlier opposed the formation of a committee comprising former Supreme Court judges to oversee stubble-burning mitigation efforts, arguing that existing mechanisms were sufficient.
In a November 18 order, the court directed the Centre and CAQM to utilize ISRO’s stationary satellites for comprehensive day-long monitoring of farm fires, as NASA's satellite data was limited to specific time windows.
The issue of stubble burning remains a major environmental and public health concern, significantly contributing to Delhi-NCR’s hazardous air pollution levels.
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