On Friday, the Supreme Court urged the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in the National Capital Region to become more proactive in addressing pollution caused by stubble burning within its jurisdiction. A bench comprising Justices A.S. Oka and Augustine George Masih acknowledged that while the commission had filed multiple reports and affidavits, it had not performed to expectations regarding its intended objectives.
The court noted that the CAQM Act has been in effect for over three years, yet the commission has issued only 85 to 87 directives under Section 12(1). Despite identifying issues, no action has been taken against non-compliance with these directives. The justices emphasized that the commission must enhance its efforts to effectively combat pollution.
The CAQM chairperson, present via video conference, indicated that the three committees outlined in Section 11(1) meet only once every three months, raising concerns about their efficacy in carrying out critical tasks. The court demanded clarity on the committees’ meetings and the decisions made.
Additionally, the Supreme Court directed the commission to ensure that equipment provided by the central government to help prevent stubble burning is utilized by farmers. A compliance report is to be submitted by the commission, which the court will review on October 3.
