SC orders states to stop crop stubble burning immediately

Directive sent to Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and UP; cabinet secy told to meet stakeholders

- Abraham Thomas

The Supreme Court on Tuesday told Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh to immediately stop burning crop stubble that has pushed air quality in Delhi to hazardous levels, making the heads of local police stations and chief secretaries of the four states responsible for carrying out the order.

Delhi's choked air is resulting in "complete murder of our young people", said the court, which also directed the Cabinet Secretary to meet all stakeholders on Wednesday to devise an immediate solution to rising pollution levels in the capital. The matter will be heard next on Friday.

A bench of justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Sudhanshu Dhulia said, "We want this stopped altogether whether you take forceful action or give incentives against burning of stubble, but you have to stop it. We are at zero level patience on these issues. This has to be sorted tomorrow so that it does not happen next year."

The bench also took a dim view of Delhi's so-called odd-even car scheme that is to go into effect from 13 November, terming it "optics".