Supreme Court pulls up Punjab government over stubble burning
The Supreme Court has pulled up the Punjab government over its failure to curb stubble burning, which causes severe air pollution in Delhi and other parts of North India during the winter months.
The Supreme Court of India on Tuesday expressed its dissatisfaction with the Punjab government's efforts to tackle the issue of stubble burning. The court asked the Punjab government to submit an action taken report on the steps it has taken to address the problem.
Stubble burning is a common practice in Punjab, where farmers burn the leftover stubble after harvesting rice and wheat. This practice causes severe air pollution in Delhi and other parts of North India during the winter months. The smoke from stubble burning contains harmful pollutants, including PM2.5 and PM10, which can cause serious respiratory problems.
The Supreme Court has been hearing a case related to stubble burning for several years. In 2013, the court ordered the Punjab government to take immediate steps to stop stubble burning. However, the problem persists, and the air quality in Delhi and other parts of North India continues to deteriorate during the winter months.
In Tuesday's hearing, the Supreme Court expressed its frustration with the Punjab government's lack of progress on the issue. The court said that the government had failed to take effective measures to stop stubble burning and that the situation had become "intolerable."
The court asked the Punjab government to submit an action taken report within two weeks. The report should detail the steps the government has taken to stop stubble burning, as well as the progress that has been made.
The court's decision is a welcome step in the fight against stubble burning. The Punjab government must now take decisive action to address this issue. The health of millions of people is at stake.
The Punjab government has said that it is committed to stopping stubble burning. However, the government has struggled to find a solution to the problem. The government has tried to promote alternative methods of stubble management, such as baling and composting. However, these methods are often more expensive and time-consuming than burning the stubble.
The Punjab government needs to find a way to make alternative methods of stubble management more attractive to farmers. The government could provide subsidies for these methods, or it could make it more difficult for farmers to burn stubble.
The Supreme Court's decision is a step in the right direction, but it is not enough. The Punjab government needs to take urgent action to stop stubble burning and protect the health of its citizens.
In conclusion, the Supreme Court's decision to pull up the Punjab government over stubble burning is a welcome step. The issue of stubble burning is a serious one, and the Punjab government must take action to address it. The government needs to find a way to make alternative methods of stubble management more attractive to farmers. Only then will we be able to solve this problem.