NEW DELHI: As air pollution in the national capital worsened, the Supreme Court on Tuesday directed governments of Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan to file affidavits detailing steps taken to curb the situation.
The court noted that air pollution persisted in the national capital, making it difficult to for the residents to even move outside the home, though several remedial steps have been taken by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM).
A bench of Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul, Sudhanshu Dhulia and Prashant Kumar Mishra observed that crop burning is one of the main reasons for air pollution in Delhi.
The court directed the five state governments to file affidavits within a week.
The bench said that until a couple of decades ago this was the best time in Delhi, however now the city is facing worsening air quality.
The court said it is difficult to even step outside the house.
The bench asked the five state governments to bring on record steps taken to redeem the situation.
We call upon the states of Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan to file an affidavit within a week," the bench said.
The court fixed the matter for further hearing on November 7.
The bench also directed the commission for air quality to submit in a tabular form the result of the relevant period when the problem started and the current ground situations, including the air quality index (AQI) and the number of incidents of farm fires.
On October 10, the court had asked CAQM to examine issues regarding distribution of highly polluting petroleum coke, which is used by various industries. The court also sought a report from CAQM on the steps being taken for controlling air pollution in and around Delhi.
With winter session approaching, the amicus curiae, in the matter, had flagged the serious problem of air pollution and also crop residue burning.
The bench had then asked the commission to urgently submit a report regarding steps being taken for control of air pollution in and around the capital.
