The Supreme Court on Tuesday (October 31) asked the Governments of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Delhi to file affidavits setting forth the steps they have taken to control air pollution including the measures to curb crop burning.

This was after the Commission for the Air Quality Management (CAQM) stated in its report submitted to the Court that one of the reasons for the air pollution in the National Capital Region was stubble burning.

A bench comprising Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Sudhanshu Dhulia observed in the order :

“The status report has been filed on behalf of the Commission for Air Quality Management in compliance of the order dated 10.10.2023. The report is comprehensive, but the problem of the air quality still persists. One of the issues flagged is of crop burning. Ld. Amicus suggests that the concerned states should an affidavit setting forth the steps they have taken to redeem the position…. we call upon the state of Punjab, Haryana, UP, Rajasthan and Delhi to file their affidavits within a week…Commission will also state before us in a tabular form the result for the relevant period which is when the problem starts till one day before next date.”

During today’s hearing, the Union submitted that the report of CAQM dealt with the eight sources of pollution, and it also mentioned the steps that have been taken in that regard. Further, it also included the tables comparing the position of last two-three years and today. 

Justice Kaul asked about the air quality impact and told the Union that all these steps are on paper. “The point is on ground reality what is happening? Whatever happens the air quality does not improve”.