Delhi air pollution: SC seeks reports from Punjab, Haryana on stubble burning

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the governments of Punjab and Haryana to file detailed affidavits outlining the steps taken to prevent stubble burning, as air quality in the national capital and adjoining areas plunged to "severe" levels.

A bench, headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) B.R. Gavai, which has been monitoring measures to curb air pollution in the Delhi-NCR, took note of submissions highlighting worsening conditions despite enforcement of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).

Senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan submitted before the Bench, also comprising Justice K. Vinod Chandran, that while GRAP-III is currently in force, the prevailing pollution levels warrant implementation of GRAP-IV — the most stringent stage of anti-pollution measures.

"AQI has crossed 450 in several places. Even outside Court No. 10, drilling work is going on. At least for a few days, such activities should stop," he said.