With Delhi and its satellite cities inhaling a deadly cocktail of poisonous gases due to extreme air pollution, the Supreme Court on Wednesday questioned the Centre and states over measures required to improve the quality of air in the region. 

Centre not willing to ask employees to work from home

The Centre submitted to the top court an affidavit wherein it proposed a slew of measures including a ban on entry of all trucks, except those carrying essential items, in the national capital, shutting of schools and 50 per cent attendance in GNCTD offices to curb the menace of air pollution. The Centre, however, apprised the court of its unwillingness to ask the Union government’s employees to work from home. Rather, it suggested carpooling as a measure to reduce the number of vehicles plying for commuting, in order to reduce vehicular pollution.

“The Central government decided that in view of the recent normalisation of the functioning of Central government offices post-Covid pandemic, the advantage of not passing work from home direction would outweigh the advantages which would be gained from work from home directions,” the Centre informed the SC.

“Instead [of asking employees to work from home], DoPT Government of India has issued an advisory for the Central Government officers and staff for pooling and sharing of vehicles to the maximum extent possible so that number of the Central Government vehicles plying for commuting of officers and staff are reduced substantially,” the Centre’s affidavit read. 

Can increase frequency of metro trains, CNG buses, Delhi govt informs SC

The Delhi government, on being asked about its steps to deal with the situation, told the Supreme Court that construction sites are being vigorously looked at with day and night patrolling anti-dust campaigns are being organised and anti-smog guns have been installed in the city.

During the hearing, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who appeared for the Delhi government, once again brought up the issue of stubble burning in neighbouring states. The apex court pulled up Singhvi saying that its focus is on pollution, and he is raising irrelevant issues.

“People sitting in Delhi in 5-7-star hotels criticise how they [farmers] contribute 4, 30 or 40% to pollution. Have you seen their (farmers) earnings per landholding? We ignore the fact that firecrackers are burning despite the ban,” the SC said.

The problem of stubble burning has been taken care of, as the farmers have been asked to not burn stubble for two weeks, the apex court told the Delhi government’s lawyer.

The apex court asked the Delhi government whether it is possible for it to increase the supply of CNG buses. To this, the government responded that it can increase the frequency of metro and bus. The government further requested the court to order directing employees to work from home. 

Punjab, Haryana govts taking measures to control stubble burning 

The Punjab government, during the hearing, told Supreme Court that it has taken measures to prevent farmers from setting stubble on fire. The Haryana government, on being asked what it has done to deal with farm fires, informed the court that it is taking stock of the situation to ensure that no stubble burning takes place in the next two weeks.

The Supreme Court noted the submissions made by the Centre. It directed Delhi-NCR states to comply with the decisions that were taken at Tuesday’s meeting (held following the court’s intervention) to curb air pollution. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta urged the court to not issue any extreme orders, as efforts are being made to improve the quality of air in the region. Following this, the court posted the matter for hearing on November 24.