News Headlines
Supreme Court of India (Sonu Mehta/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)
The Supreme Court issued a directive on Tuesday (31 October) requiring the governments of Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan to submit sworn affidavits outlining the measures they have undertaken to combat air pollution.
This comes in the backdrop of Punjab reporting more than 1,000 stubble burning cases for the second consecutive day on Monday, as reported by Hindustan Times.
As per the Punjab Remote Sensing Centre (PRSC), the state recorded 1,030 instances of farm fires, bringing the cumulative tally to 6,284. The highest single-day count of this season was 1,068, reported on Sunday.
However, the frequency of farm fires this year is lower when compared to the same period last year. On 30 October 2022, Punjab registered 1,761 cases of stubble burning, while in 2021, the count stood at 1,373.
Meanwhile, a three-judge panel, led by Justice SK Kaul, has instructed the five state governments to submit an affidavit within one week. Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and PK Mishra, who also form part of the bench, emphasised that crop burning is a primary contributor to air pollution in Delhi.
The Supreme Court had previously requested a report from the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) regarding measures taken to mitigate air pollution in and around Delhi.
Based on CAQM data, incidents of farm fires in Punjab and Haryana have decreased by approximately 56 per cent and 40 per cent, respectively, since 15 September, coinciding with the commencement of paddy harvesting in these two agricultural states, when compared to the corresponding period in the previous year.
Support Swarajya's 50 Ground Reports Project & Sponsor A Story
Every general election Swarajya does a 50 ground reports project.
Aimed only at serious readers and those who appreciate the nuances of political undercurrents, the project provides a sense of India's electoral landscape. As you know, these reports are produced after considerable investment of travel, time and effort on the ground.
This time too we've kicked off the project in style and have covered over 30 constituencies already. If you're someone who appreciates such work and have enjoyed our coverage please consider sponsoring a ground report for just Rs 2999 to Rs 19,999 - it goes a long way in helping us produce more quality reportage.
You can also back this project by becoming a subscriber for as little as Rs 999 - so do click on this links and choose a plan that suits you and back us.
Click below to contribute.
Latest