Air pollution in Delhi has reached alarming levels, making it increasingly difficult for residents to breathe. The Supreme Court has condemned the governments of Punjab, Haryana, and the central government for their inaction in addressing this crisis. During a hearing on air pollution, Justice Abhay Oak criticized the central government for failing to implement effective measures. He noted that environmental protection laws have weakened, with amendments to Section 15 now imposing fines instead of penalties, but the process for collecting these fines is lacking.
The Supreme Court challenged the Punjab Chief Secretary, pointing out that while authorities registered FIRs against approximately 1,080 violators of stubble burning laws, only 473 received fines, allowing over 600 offenders to evade punishment. The court stressed that this leniency undermines efforts to combat pollution and that the government has treated the issue too lightly for the past three years.
The law provides a mechanism to prosecute offenders, yet the governments are not consistently enforcing these regulations. The court warned Punjab and Haryana that it would take strict action if necessary, emphasizing the urgency of addressing the pollution crisis.
As winter approaches, Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) has surpassed 300 in many areas, and Haryana and Punjab are frequently held responsible for the rise in pollution. The practice of burning crop residue by farmers continues to worsen the situation, severely impacting the lives of Delhi’s residents.