This Article is From Nov 13, 2021

"Fashion To Bash Farmers": Supreme Court's 10 Quotes On Delhi Air Crisis

Delhi recorded its 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) at 471 by 4 pm, the worst this season so far.

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Farm fires account for only a certain percentage of pollution, the Supreme Court said.

The Supreme Court today pulled up the central government over the deteriorating air quality in Delhi, calling the situation "very serious". "You see how bad the situation is....even in our houses, we are wearing masks," Chief Justice NV Ramana said.

Here are the Supreme Court's top quotes on this big story:

  1. "You tell us how do you plan to take emergency measures? Two days lockdown? What is your emergency plan on lowering AQI (Air Quality Index) levels," sais Chief Justice NV Ramana.

  2. "Why are you projecting like pollution is because of farmers? It is only a certain percentage of pollution. What about the rest? What are you doing to control the pollution in Delhi? We have nothing to do with the government ....state or centre. You tell us what is your proper plan...not about 2-3 days," Chief Justice said.

  3. "It has become a fashion for everyone to bash the farmers. Have you seen how crackers are being burnt in Delhi for the last 7 days," Justice Surya Kant, who was part of the bench that included Justice DY Chandrachud, asked.

  4. "Problem is of incentivisation. If you are not giving incentives to farmers for alternatives then things cannot change. Enforcement cannot happen just like that," Justice Chandrachud said.

  5. To this, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said: "We give machines to farmers at 80 per cent subsidy. Farmers with big holdings are not covered under subsidy but small farmers are covered under subsidy."

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  7. "Emergency situation right now and needs immediate emergency measures. We can't get into research institute reports now," said Justice Surya Kant.

  8. "You opened all schools two weeks back but all these kids are exposing their lungs to this hazardous air. You gave us AQI level of over 500 yourself," said Justice DY Chandrachud.

  9. "We agree on the gravity of the situation. We are smoking 20 cigarettes a day," Rahul Mehra, appearing for the Delhi government, admitted in the court.

  10. Assuring that steps are being taken to stop stubble burning, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said: "We are taking steps to stop stubble burning. But in (the) last five-six days the kind of pollution, we have seen is because of (the) stubble burning in Punjab. The state government needs to buckle up."

  11. "Something needs to happen so that at least for the next 2-3 days we feel better," Chief Justice Ramana said.

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