The SC is forced to remind the Govts that toxic smog is taking a toll on the citizenry
It’s once again the same drama that Delhiites have witnessed year after year: The Supreme Court upbraiding the authorities — both the State Governments and the Centre — over the toxic smog that clouds the national Capital’s skyline throughout the winter. Just as the city was returning to normal after battling months of the COVID-19 scourge, the pollution menace has once again unsettled it. Those suffering from lung-related issues are forced to shut themselves up and live under dread. The rest go about the business, huffing and puffing, disregarding the looming toxic threat. They have few options. Life has to go on. People have to earn their livelihood. The city can’t be brought to a grinding halt. The horror of the lockdown is still fresh in the mind of millions of those who suffered the most. It’s a matter of shame and measure of the insensitivity of the authorities that the Supreme Court has to step in to remind them that the situation was perilous and that life cannot go on like this. The court has also set the record right by asking the authorities not to seek scapegoats in farmers, pointing out that only four per cent of the air pollution is attributed to stubble burning. Pointing this out, Justice Surya Kant said on Monday during the SC hearing: “The cat is out of the bag. Farmers are blamed needlessly.” The court identified factories, transportation and road dust as major contributing factors other than stubble burning.
In its order today, the court said: “The Government has not indicated precisely what are the steps they are taking to control these (industrial pollution and pollution due to transportation, dust and stubble burning). We direct the Central Government to hold an emergency meeting tomorrow…and what are the steps they can take.” On stubble burning, the court said: “While it’s not the major cause...there is a lot of stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana. We request the State Governments to pursue farmers to stop the burning for a week... Punjab and Haryana should hold these meetings.” Every time the Supreme Court has tried to nudge the authorities on some important issues, the refrain is the same: Please don’t get into the domain of governance. But what should the court do if the Centre does not even convene a meeting of the States around Delhi which must be brought on board to tackle the pollution menace. After all, Delhi is not an island. The SC has rightfully directed the Centre to hold a meeting of Delhi, Punjab and Haryana to work out a comprehensive plan to deal with the situation. It’s time the SC sets up a permanent committee headed by a retired Judge to monitor round the year the steps required to prevent the visitation of the annual menace. Going by the experiences of the past, the authorities are prone to sliding back into the “sleep” mode once the air quality level shows even the slightest improvement.