Delhi Air Pollution Update: Delhi has been battling with toxic fumes for days now. (File)
New Delhi:
The burning of farm waste led to a heated exchange at the High Court on Wednesday as the Supreme Court continued its hearing on the air pollution crisis in Delhi after two days. While annual studies have determined the contribution of straw burning in neighboring states to be between 4-10%, at the height of the pollution season in Delhi the figure has reached almost 50% .
On Monday, the court directed the Delhi government and central officials to hold an emergency meeting on the pollution and listed steps that could be taken. The Supreme Court said the center and states should consider working from home for their staff in and around Delhi.
After the meeting, the Air Quality Management Committee late Tuesday night said all schools and colleges in Delhi and surrounding cities should remain closed until further notice. As a result, educational institutions will likely return to online classes as held during the Covid lockdown.
A nine-page order issued by CAQM also advises the state governments of the NCR (Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh) to allow at least 50% of employees to work from home until November 21.
Private companies in the Delhi NCR must also be “encouraged” to allow at least 50% of their employees to work from home, the order of CAQM (a subcommittee of the Central Commission for Pollution Control) said.
Government offices in the city have been directed and private offices have been advised to let half of their staff work from home.
Here are the live updates on air pollution in Delhi:
Justice Surya Kant: Regardless of the numbers in the farmer’s plight … what forced him to burn the straw … no one cared about that. Those sleeping in five-star hotels in Delhi blame the farmers. Look at such small fields of farmers. Can they afford the machines you talk about?
CJI is reading from his phone:
A research paper by IIT states that only a certain percentage contributes to straw burning pollution
Abhishek Manu Singhvi: That must be old research. We are conducting an ongoing research
CJI NV Ramana: You have banned fireworks. But you can deny that in the last 5-6 days there have been a lot of firecrackers. What about those sources of pollution?
Abhishek Manu Singhvi: I don’t deny that burning firecrackers causes pollution
Justice Surya Kant: Every year in October and November, the Supreme Court is forced to take steps when Delhi begins to choke
Abhishek Manu Singhvi: Forget politics or the month, our mission is to tell you that burning straw is a cause
CJI NV Ramana: You all say different numbers. We don’t want to punish the farmers. We asked the Center to pursue and ask the farmers not to burn the stubble for at least a week
CJI NV Ramana: If you keep bringing up other things like that, the main problem won’t be solved
CJI NV Ramana: TV debates are causing more pollution than any other source. Everyone has their own agenda there. We are trying to find a solution here
Abhishek Manu Singhvi: These numbers will be higher in November so should not be overlooked. Source-based pollution studies have yet to be completed. Delhi government has authorized it and it is being implemented by IIT
Abhishek Manu Singhvi: We are also not here to blame the farmers
Abhishek Manu Singhvi for Delhi Government
SAFAR study on stubble burning … to cite data when CJI intervenes
CJI NV Ramana: If you see the newspaper today, each newspaper has its own statistics
Abhishek Manu Singhvi: It varies from 0 to 58% based on the month we are talking abt. SG may have taken 4 months or 6 months on average
CJI NV Ramana: Our focus is on pollution reduction. You are all repeating an unrelated problem over and over.
CJI NV Ramana: Do you have the number of Central Government employees?
SG Tushar Mehta: There is no exact number. But it won’t be significant. It will be less than other means. Any order here will have all Indian ramifications.
CJI NV Ramana: Are all contiguous states like Punjab, Haryana and UP also adopting these measures?
SG Tushar Mehta: correct
SG Tushar Mehta: On WFH for Central Government Employees, we said that work has been affected due to Covid. The number of central govt vehicles in Delhi-NCR is not too high. There are more cons than pros when it comes to WFH. WFH will have limited impact. We have consulted car merger.
Vikas Singh to the petitioner: SG Tushar Mehta told the Court that the figure was 10%. So I told the court it was 35-40% of it instead.
SG Tushar Mehta: The Secretary-General of all states had a meeting. We have decided:
- To take steps for industries that run on unapproved fuel
- Effective enforcement measures will be taken
CJI NV Ramana: These figures are not important to us. Unless the parties to the case are trying to divert the matter. We care about reducing pollution.
CJI NV Ramana: It’s a matter of common sense
SG Tushar Mehta: But there are people who don’t use common sense
SG Tushar Mehta explains the contribution of beard burning:
- We said in our affidavit that some factors like stubble burning contribute more to pollution after October. It’s not throughout the year.
- Then we announced that it would increase in those two months. And about 35-40%.
- But we predict that contribution is only 4-7% because of Punjab elections
SG Tushar Mehta: We heard some harsh words on the media about me that I misled the court by saying that beards only contribute 4-7%
Justice DY Chandrachud: When I said 4%, Mr. Vikas Singh pointed out that it is 35%-40%
CJI NV Ramana: When you hold public office, you are bound to receive such criticism. When consciousness is clear, there is no problem. Forget.
Delhi-NCR Pollution Hearing Begins
Punjab government submits its response to High Court, says financial support from Center is needed on straw burning
Punjab says:
- Take all possible steps to control stubble burning but have financial constraints
- Need financial support from Center to control stubble burning
- Requested the Center to compensate 100 yen per quintal cost for MSP farmers on and on the MSP to control the burning of azaleas, but to no avail.
The Center does not endorse WFH for its employees, filing an affidavit with the Supreme Court.
Center says:
- Work has been affected before due to Covid
- Working from home will not have many benefits and effects
- Center said it has given advice to its employees about car collection
Only in | Not in favor of working from home for employees, will not bring much benefit, center told Supreme Court
- All schools and colleges in Delhi and surrounding cities should remain closed until further notice, the Air Quality Management Commission said late Tuesday evening. The direction – one of many – comes as the national capital region as it faces a toxic haze that has enveloped the city since Diwali.
- As a result, educational institutions will likely return to online classes as held during the Covid lockdown.
- A nine-page order issued by CAQM also advises the state governments of the NCR (Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh) to allow at least 50% of employees to work from home until November 21.
- Private companies in the Delhi NCR must also be “encouraged” to allow at least 50% of their employees to work from home, the order of CAQM (a subcommittee of the Central Commission for Pollution Control) said.
- In addition to the WFH guidelines and the closure of modern classrooms for schools and colleges, the order also calls for “severe fines to those/organizations responsible for stacking construction materials … or waste on lines in NCR” and “enhanced line scanning in NCR”.
- Construction activities and demolition projects across Delhi NCR have also been halted until November 21, except for railway services/stations, metro operations, airports and bus terminals, as well. activities and projects related to national defense or security.
- Importantly, only 5 out of 11 thermal power plants in Delhi NCR will be operational.
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