Justice Kaul said, "Something has to be done immediately..."

Delhi Air Pollution Latest News: The Supreme Court on Tuesday heard the matter of air pollution in Delhi-NCR and asked Delhi, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan to stop the stubble burning immediately. It observed that there can't be a political battle all the time. 

The top court stated, “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 Supreme Court further noted that a smog tower installed, as per earlier order, is not working, and, likewise, directed the government to ensure it is repaired.

It also asked the Chief Secretaries of the States to have a meeting either physically or by Zoom on the air pollution issue.

Delhi Air Pollution Case, Supreme Court hearing: As and when happened 

• CAQM presented a report that everything was in place... CAQM gave a report that they were hoping for zero burning. 
• The court asked: "What is the solution? Delhi can’t be made to go through this." 
• Senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan said that there was a necessary legal background that needed to be told. He added that the problem here was not crop burning but it's about when. He also said that there are many countries that have crop burning.
• Justice Kaul said, "You see the number of children in Delhi going through health issues."
• Punjab AG said, "These 20-50 days are the only when the problem occurs." 
• Justice Kaul said, "It is the peculiar problem of timing... but there is no seriousness I feel." 
• He added, "We do not care how you do it... it must stop. Whether by sometimes forceful actions and sometimes by incentives."
• Punjab AG said, "I want Punjab to be a part of a progressive solution."
• Justice Kaul said, "Crop burning is a major contributor to pollution… Who appears for the Delhi Government? What are you doing for vehicles coming to Delhi?" 
• Punjab AG suggests solutions, "We need to provide MSP so that farmers can shift to other crops..."
• Justice Kaul said, "Something has to be done immediately..." 
• He added, "The problem is the timing of the crop... by the time they shift to another crop... all these need to be sorted out." 
• Justice Kaul addressed the Union Of India, "You will have to help them to shift to an alternative crop." 
• He further said, "I don't know. You get all the officers... we are on zero patience on this..." 
• Senior counsel Gopal Sankaranarayanan said, "For the first time we have a counsel for Punjab and he is being fair." 
• Justice Kaul agreed.
• Justice Kaul addressed Punjab AG and said, "You have to stop the fire. Your administration must do so. Your local SHO must be held responsible... from today onwards they must start working on it." 

The Court, in its order, referred to the suggestions made by the Punjab AG: 
1. The farmers are burning the stubble on account of economic reasons. He suggested that an endeavor should be made to provide an alternative solution. In this regard, he also suggested that subsidies shall be provided by the Center to provide the required facilities. 
2. The paddy cultivation must be phased out to be substituted with other crops, and the center must explore the options for giving MSP for other crops rather than for paddy.