सुप्रीम कोर्ट ने CAQM के वायु प्रदूषण दिशा-निर्देशों के पालन में लापरवाही पर जताई निराशा

Supreme Court expressed disappointment over negligence in following CAQM's air pollution guidelines

The Supreme Court expressed disappointment over the efforts of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to implement its directions related to air pollution. The Supreme Court said, from the affidavit of compliance we find that no efforts are being made by the CAQM for the implementation of its directions, not a single prosecution has been initiated and the last meeting was held only on August 29. The Supreme Court directed the states of Punjab and Haryana to comply with the directions of the CAQM and file an affidavit within a week. The Supreme Court fixed the hearing of the case on October 16.

With the onset of stubble burning season, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has deployed 'flying squads' in several districts of Haryana and Punjab to monitor incidents of paddy stubble burning. The flying squads will assess the ground-level situation and report to the Commission and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) on a "daily basis", including the steps taken to curb paddy stubble burning incidents in the allotted district, the environment ministry said. The announcement comes days after the Supreme Court slammed the CAQM for not taking concrete steps to curb air pollution in the National Capital Region (NCR) and only acting as a "mute spectator". The CAQM is the pollution monitoring body for Delhi and adjoining areas. The latest data from Punjab and Haryana last week showed a rise in stubble burning compared to last year. The environment ministry said in a recent statement that CPCB flying squads, assisting the CAQM, have been deployed in the identified hotspot districts of Punjab and Haryana from 01.10.2024 to 30.11.2024, where paddy stubble burning incidents are generally high.