NEW DELHI:
India’s Supreme Court declared on Wednesday that living in a pollution-free environment is a fundamental right and urged authorities to tackle the worsening air quality in northern India.
On the same day, Delhi’s air quality index hit a “very poor” level of 364, according to the Central Pollution Control Board, which deems readings below 50 as good. The Swiss organization IQAir has consistently ranked Delhi as the most polluted city globally. Each winter, the city suffers from toxic air, primarily due to illegal paddy stubble burning by farmers in neighboring Punjab and Haryana.
The Supreme Court criticized both state governments for their “selective action” against stubble burning, noting that existing penalties are not being enforced effectively.
“These issues extend beyond simply enforcing laws; they represent a blatant violation of fundamental rights. The governments must determine how to uphold citizens’ right to live with dignity,” the court stated.
The court also instructed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s federal government to review a proposal from Punjab requesting additional funding to supply tractors and diesel to farmers with land holdings of fewer than 10 acres.
Furthermore, the court demanded compliance reports from the federal government and the administrations of Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan.
Air pollution disrupts the lives of many South Asians every winter, and studies have shown that toxic air can reduce life expectancy by over five years.
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