The air quality on Diwali this year was worse than the last two years—the 24-hour average air quality index (AQI) was 328, which is in the ‘very poor’ category, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data.
PM (particulate matter) is an important parameter indicator of toxicity says Anumita Roychowdhury, Executive Director, Research and Advocacy, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE).
The Supreme Court on Monday sought an explanation from the Delhi government and police on why the ban on firecrackers was not implemented in the Capital during Diwali celebrations and responses from the neighboring states of Punjab and Haryana over the spike in farm fires.
A bench of justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih said the ban on firecrackers is one of the important measures to reduce pollution. He cited news reports showing widespread bursting of crackers. “If that is not implemented, it will create a chaotic situation,” said the bench as it heard advocate and environmental activist MC Mehta’s petition seeking steps against sources causing pollution in Delhi
People bring crackers from other states.
There is no public awareness before Diwali.
Farm and stubble fires are deadly combinations that occur in Punjab and Haryana. (The CSE statistic showing farm fires in Punjab and Haryana went up to 605 on Diwali (October 31) compared to 160 on October 30).
Senior advocate Aparajita Singh, assisting the court as amicus curiae, said the court order has been violated with impunity. She presented a Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) report that showed the peak concentration level of particulate matter (PM) 2.5 was 13% higher at midnight on Diwali this year compared to the past two years and 34% higher this year compared to 2022
The court said there could not be any dispute that the ban on, crackers was hardly implemented. “The effect of non-implementation of the ban is apparent from the CSE report that the pollution level in Delhi on Diwali was much higher than in 2022 and 2023. The same report also indicates that farm fires increased during Diwali.” The court asked the Delhi government to indicate if there were any farm fires in the Capital
Section 15 of the Environment Protection Act prescribing imprisonment of up to five years for any violation was replaced with fines ranging from ₹10,000 to ₹15 lakh in April 2024 with the passage of the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2023. These fines could not be imposed as the rules under the Act were yet to be framed.
The court also agreed to take up on the next date the steps taken to reduce open waste burning, vehicular pollution, industrial pollution, and entry of heavy vehicles into the Capital. It sought a progress report from Delhi and NCR states within a month of implementation. The cars in Delhi and NCR regions are soon proposed to be colour-coded. Petrol and diesel cars will be tagged with blue and orange stickers. Despite the government proposing color coding and high-security number plates target achieved is just 50%
The court said it had not been implemented at all. The court also referred to its earlier direction asking the Union government to consider Punjab’s proposal for additional funds to help small and marginal farmers buy tractors, fuel, and manpower for operating machinery to remove stubble. It has even demanded state governments incentivize farmers in Punjab and Haryana who do not burn stubble.
(Input from various sources)
Rehash/Dr. Swati Sharma/MSM
