The air pollution in the national capital New Delhi has been severe and the schools have been shut down. The New Delhi government imposed several restrictions in the region of National Capital Region (NCR). The Supreme Court of India today made strong statements about the poor air quality index of NCR saying that it cannot become a political battle. The choking air quality is responsible for the worse situation in NCR told the apex court. The court also said that this the reason for murdering the health of the people. The Supreme Court said that the burning of crop residue in the neighbouring states of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana and Punjab is responsible for the massive spike in the air pollution in the national capital every year during the winters.
The Supreme Court asked the state governments to stop stubble burning and take steps at the earliest to control the air pollution in NCR. The Supreme Court also said that it is the responsibility of the states to bring things under their control and the acts have to be immediate. The top court asked the Delhi government to control the vehicular emissions. A case was registered in the Supreme Court about the poor air quality in NCR after which the statements are made. The AQI in several regions of NCR is 400 which is very poor as per the Central Pollution Control Board. Advocate Aparajitha Singh said that there is no control on the farm fires in the states like Punjab.
Commission of Air Quality Management (CAQM) along with the states said that all the necessary steps are being taken but the burning is taking place. Similar cases are heard in the Supreme Court since 2017 and there are several orders passed but the pollution levels kept rising each year in NCR.