Supreme Court to hear Delhi-NCR pollution, stubble burning and green firecracker cases today
New Delhi: With air quality in Delhi and the surrounding National Capital Region expected to worsen around Diwali, the Supreme Court will take up on Thursday a batch of cases dealing with the pollution emergency, crop-residue burning and the regulation of firecrackers.
The hearing will focus on whether the court should relax its existing ban to allow the sale of “green” firecrackers in the capital region. At present, an earlier Supreme Court order prohibits the manufacture, storage and use of all categories of firecrackers in Delhi-NCR.
In a previous round of proceedings, the court had signalled a possible middle path. It allowed manufacturers to produce green firecrackers for the region but expressly withheld approval for their sale, making clear that production permission did not amount to a licence to sell them.
That distinction is expected to be central to Thursday’s hearing. The bench may consider whether green crackers can be permitted in the market ahead of the festival, or whether the existing prohibition should continue in view of the region’s fragile air quality.
The court is also expected to review action taken against stubble burning, a seasonal contributor to pollution in Delhi-NCR. Smoke from the burning of paddy residue in neighbouring states often drifts into the capital during late October and November, compounding emissions from vehicles, industry and construction.
The Supreme Court had earlier asked the central government to consult all stakeholders and frame a balanced policy on firecracker manufacturing and use in Delhi-NCR. It had also observed that public awareness and voluntary compliance could prove more effective than restrictions that are difficult to enforce at the ground level.
The outcome of the hearing could determine the extent to which firecrackers are allowed during Diwali and may influence the broader response to the capital’s annual winter pollution crisis.
(Inputs from IANS)