Speaking on the Supreme Court’s order to the Punjab government to stop burning the stubble, state cabinet minister Bram Shanker Sharma said that the government is putting all efforts from their side to control one of the main cause of pollution in Northern India – stubble burning by farmers.

Amid rising concerns over deteriorating air quality in the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR), the Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the Punjab government to stop stubble burning and listed the matter for hearing on November 10.

Bram Shanker Sharma told ANI “Punjab government put in all efforts from their side. We held discussions with farmers and appealed to them not to burn stubble and to choose alternative crops. The government is committed to stop burning stubble so that the environment is not harmed. We respect the Supreme Court. CM Bhagwant Mann has also appealed to the farmers and I am hopeful that the situation will improve.”

A bench of Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Sudhanshu Dhulia, apex observed that there can’t be a political battle all the time and that stubble burning needs to be stopped.

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“We want it (stubble burning) stopped. We don’t know how you do it, it’s your job. But it must be stopped. Something has to be done immediately,” the apex court told Punjab after the government’s counsel said that farmers are burning the stubble on account of economic reasons.

Additionally, the top court directed Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan governments to stop stubble burning forthwith.

The Court also made the local SHO responsible for implementing the court’s direction on stubble burning under the supervision of DGPs and the Chief Secretary.

Further, the SC noted that a smog tower installed as per an earlier order is not working, and directed the government to ensure it is repaired.
The SC observed that schemes like odd-even for vehicles to tackle pollution issues are mere optics.

Source: ANI