While hearing a matter related to the air pollution in Delhi, the Supreme Court on Friday said farm fires in Punjab and other states have to stop.
The SC bench headed by Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul also said that the paddy cultivation in Punjab has to be phased out and noted that it is driving down water tables in Punjab. The bench also comprised Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Ahsanuddin Amanullah.
The farm fires in Punjab from the burning of residue of paddy crop is among the leading causes of the spike in pollution in Delhi and the surrounding National Capital Region (NCR) at the onset of winter every year.
After being in the 'severe' category for six days straight, the Delhi's air quality index (AQI) improved marginally to 'very poor' category on Friday after overnight rains. The AQI as of 4:10 pm stood at 398, just two points away from the 'severe' category. While hearing the matter related to the air pollution, the SC also told the Delhi government to not blame the court for its non-performance over the odd-even scheme.
"The Supreme Court on Friday said that crop residue burning in Punjab and some other states adjacent to Delhi have to be stopped and solution has to found to reduce the pollution level in the national capital region (NCR)," reported PTI.
As for the issue of paddy cultivation, ANI reported the Supreme Court as expressing concern on the reducing groundwater in Punjab and says there is a need to phase out paddy cultivation in the state.
"Water table in Punjab is going down. We don't want another desert there. Phasing out of paddy is needed," said the SC, as per ANI. The court was further quoted as asking the Union and Punjab governments of steps being as a long-term measure to slowly phase out paddy to restore the water table in the state.
The SC further said that farmers "have to be more responsible" as a part of the society and the government must talk to them, according to ANI.
"Supreme Court observes that farmers are also a part of society and they have to be more responsible, and we have to be more responsive to their needs...Supreme Court says farmers are very well organised in Punjab and asks the government why it doesn't talk to the farmer's bodies and motivate them," reported ANI.
