Despite ban on stubble burning, many instances of the same were reported from Haryana and Punjab. The Supreme Court slammed both the governments for their failure to control stubble burning that has contributed immensely to the poor air quality in Delhi and Punjab.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court has lashed out at Punjab and Haryana governments for failing to control the hazards of stubble burning.
The instances of stubble burning were reported in both the states despite the ban that kept air quality rising to dangerous levels in Delhi.
Supreme Court Justice Arun Mishra stated: "Because you aren’t able to implement measures, doesn’t mean people in Delhi-NCR should die and suffer from cancer."
"Stubble burning has increased, why shouldn't we penalize you and your machinery? We are not going to spare you now, everybody should know we are not going to spare anyone of you," Supreme Court also lashed out at the Uttar Pradesh chief secretary.
Meanwhile, the Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary informed the Supreme Court that around 1000 FIRs have been filed against stubble burning and a fine of around Rs 1 crore has been imposed.
Justice Arun Mishra spoke to ANI and said: “People are laughing at our country that we can’t even control stubble burning. Blame game is not serving the people of Delhi. You people will play the blame game, not taking it (pollution) seriously.”
Justice Mishra also said: “Why are people being forced to live in gas chambers? It is better to kill them all in one go. Get explosives in 15 bags at one go. Why should people suffer all this? A blame game is going on in Delhi and I am literally shocked.”
The Supreme Court has directed the Centre and Arvind Kejriwal government in Delhi to keep their differences aside and sit together to finalise a plan within 10 days to set up air purifying towers.
Meanwhile, farmers have said that they are under a loss due to crop failure and cannot afford to buy machines to get rid of the stubble. This has left them with only option, to burn the crop leftover.
On Monday morning too Delhi's air quality was in the 'poor' category.
Read Exclusive COVID-19 Coronavirus News updates, at MyNation.