SC sets up committee to monitor stubble burning; CPCB blames adverse weather

The Supreme Court has constituted a committee under former judge

M B Lokur to monitor stubble burning in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Haryana in wake of rising air pollution in the Delhi-national Capital Region (NCR). The one-man committee would be assisted by the chief secretaries of the states concerned.

The apex court noted that citizens of Delhi-ncr have the “right to breathe” and there needs to be some monitoring of stubble burning before it assumes unhealthy proportions.

A three-judge Bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde ordered that all the authorities concerned in Delhi and the Environment Pollution (Prevention & Control) Authority will report to the Lokur Committee.

The court was hearing a plea filed by two environmental activists calling for a complete ban on stubble burning.

The SC also said the National Cadet Corps, Bharat Scouts and Guides, and National Service Scheme can be deployed for assisting the Lokur Committee in monitoring stubble burning.

“We trust that the authorities in charge shall place them at the disposal of the Lokur Committee for this purpose. In addition, we direct that the teams already in existence in Punjab and Haryana, meant for preventing stubble burning, shall report to and take instructions from the Lokur Committee,” the court said.

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has already deployed 50 teams across five states to keep a check on air pollution. The teams would be doing field visits from October 15 till February 28. CPCB officials said the teams would report any incident of stubble burning and dust mismanagement and authorities in the respective area will take penal action.

Stubble burning is one of the major causes of air quality worsening in the NCR during the winter season. The data from System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR) showed that share of stubble burning in PM2.5 of Delhi-ncr rose to over 15 per cent in less than 72 hours. It was 1 per cent on October 14.

The CPCB believes weather conditions could worsen the air quality further in the coming days. The apex pollution control body said compared to last year during September- October, when there were seven rainy days with 121 mm rain, this year there were three days of barely 21 mm rain.

“Meteorological conditions have been extremely unfavourable in September and October as compared to the corresponding period last year,” CPCB said on Friday during a press conference.

CPCB officials said as temperature dips, there is a likelihood that air quality will not be as bad as last year. Last year, Diwali coincided with stubble burning in October last week. However, this year Diwali is on November 14.

“Harvest of kharif crop and stubble burning has started earlier than normal this year. The peak of stubble fires may not coincide with the most adverse meteorological conditions this year. We are hoping that the peak contribution from fires reduces by the time minimum temperature starts falling significantly and before Diwali,” said Prashant Gargava, member secretary, CPCB.

The CPCB also said there are fewer vehicles on the road as work from home continues for many, though personal vehicle traffic would be higher as citizens are avoiding public transport due to the pandemic.