A hearing was held in the Supreme Court on the rising pollution in Delhi. During this, the apex court reprimanded the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) for not taking effective action against stubble burning.
The court said that CAQM has not complied with a single provision of the Act so far. The court said that there are emergency-like conditions in the city due to pollution. The case is being heard by a bench of Justice Abhay S Oka and Justice AG Masih. The apex court asked CAQM whether there has been any reduction in stubble burning? Why are you not taking effective action against stubble burning? Why are meetings not being held continuously? Your action is only on paper and you are a mute spectator.
CAQM Chairman Rajesh Verma said that after forming the committee, he has issued 82 legal orders and 15 suggestions. His team has inspected 19 thousand places and ordered the closure of more than 10 thousand factories.
On this, the court said that CAQM has been in existence for three years, but has issued only 82 instructions. The commission needs to be more active. The court said that the commission should ensure whether its instructions are reducing the problem of pollution or not.
The Supreme Court said that how can you take steps without forming a committee? It added, ‘Show us even one instruction issued by the commission using its powers. All this is in the air’. During the last hearing on August 27, the court said that the Pollution Control Board of Delhi-NCR is not working properly due to lack of employees. The court had ordered five states to fill the vacant jobs by April 30, 2025, so that pollution can be controlled.
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