Let us try to make next winter better: Supreme Court on Delhi Air Pollution

The Supreme Court on Wednesday exhorted all stakeholders to cooperate to tackle air pollution and stubble burning in Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh so that the air quality index in these States during the next winter improves. .Towards this end, the Court also asked the Punjab government to speed up and complete its collection of environment-compensation cess imposed on farmers who violate restrictions on stubble burning.A bench of Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Sudhanshu Dhulia reiterated that crop fires must stop. "Let us at least endeavour to make our next winter better," Justice Kaul, who retires for office on December 24, remarked.The Court noted that stubble burning violations and air quality index in Delhi need constant monitoring. "Affidavit (by Punjab government) shows 53 percent of environment cess recoveries made. It must be sped up. Point is still farm fires are still significant, all this must stop," the bench noted in its order.Stubble burning refers to the practice of farmers setting fire to straw stubble which remains in fields after the harvest of grains like wheat and paddy. The stubble is burnt to prepare the fields for the next set of crops. It is the easiest and cheapest way to clear the fields but leads to a drastic dip in air quality..The Court was hearing a case dealing with the deteriorating air quality in Delhi and stubble burning in neighbouring States, which is said to be one of the biggest contributors to air pollution.The Supreme Court had in November pulled up the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led government in Delhi for failing to provide funds for the Regional Rapid Transport System (RRTS) projects in the Alwar and Panipat corridors, despite a recent undertaking to do so in July this year.The bench had proceeded to order a transfer of funds meant for advertising by the government to these RRTS projects, however the same was stayed for a week, leaving some time for the AAP government to make good on its earlier promise.In November, the Court had strongly suggested that the practice of stubble burning should be stopped, adding that schemes like odd-even days for vehicles to combat air pollution are mere optics.More recently, the Court had observed that registering criminal cases against farmers who burn paddy stubble is not a solution to tackle the ensuing air pollution. Instead, the government should consider withholding minimum support prices (MSP) to such farmers for their crops, it was suggested..During the hearing of the case on Wednesday, the Court granted an additional week to the Delhi government to release the funds for the remaining corridors of the Rapid Rail project in the National Capital Region, or risk having its advertisement budget attached.This was after Senior Advocate S Muralidhar, appearing for the Delhi government, informed that the necessary budgetary provisions for the same have been made. However, the release of the funds awaits the Central government's approval, he added, which the bench did not find force in."These are new excuses. We are not afraid to pass tough orders. If you do not pay, why will even other States pay. Mr Muralidhar, you will make me reactivate my earlier order (of attaching Delhi government's advertisement budget)," Justice Kaul remarked.The bench then proceeded to urge the Punjab government and concerned authorities (including the Commission for Air Quality Management) to file updated compliance reports on the issue of air pollution in Delhi.It then posted the case for hearing on February 27, 2024.Attorney General R Venkataramani appeared for the Central government.