KEYWORDS:- Supreme Court, Delhi Pollution, Aam Aadmi Party, Paddy Cultivation, RRTS Projects, Stubble burning
The Supreme Court on 22 November, 2023, draw up the Aam Aadmi Party government in Delhi for their failure in providing funds for RRTS (Regional Rapid Transport System) projects in the corridors of Panipat and Alwar, instead of a recent undertaking to do the same in July.
A bench of Justices i.e. Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Sudhanshu Dhulia acted and ordered a transfer of funds meant for advertising by the government to these RRTS projects.
However, the order stayed for a week, giving some time to AAP government to make their earlier promises fulfilled.
The Court ordered that it was rs. 1,100 crores for the last 3 years but Rs. 550 crores for this year. At the request of the Delhi Government, the Court keep this order leaved for one week. If the funds are not transferred then the order will come into effect.
The bench was hearing a case which deals with the decrement in the quality of air and imperial burning in the nearby states, which is considered to be one of the main contributors of air pollution.
The issues taken in today’s hearing was the delay in the implementation of RRTS projects, which is considered to be a eco-friendlier mode of transportation.
The Court before passing its order has warned Delhi Government that they will stay and your advertising budget will be attached.
The bench further observed that you cannot take the court for granted. We have to do this if this is the only way that States will cooperate.
The Court noted before passing this order that it has also ordered the government to provide remaining funds for these projects on July 24.
The other issues taken by the Supreme Court included methods to tackle stubble burning and to control the burning of garbage in open areas.
As per the Advocate General of Punjab, 984 FIRs were lodged related to stubble burning. Attorney General pointed out that out of 20,000 odd only 6,000 were fined, said that we have a huge bridge between imposing fines and crop fires incidents.
The bench said that, what they understand is that the people who have sufficient incentive and holdings to monetize it through mechanized harvesting, whereas those who have insufficient incentive and holdings are troubling and have to turn to stubble burning.
The Court observed that there are problems for small holdings farmers to adopt alternative ways of getting rid of stubble.
In dealing with this issue, the Court directed that the government could supply funds, which could later be recruited from the products arise from alternative methods of disposal.
The Court urget that state government should keep their politics aside in this.
The bench further noted that land has become arid due to paddy cultivation and the farmers must be aware about such effects. The long effect of paddy growing would be disastrous. We hope it is do away with.
It had also suggested that paddy cultivation should be weed out of Punjab and Non-registered taxis should be barred from entering into National Capital.
The Government was suggested that they should consider withholding MSP to such farmers for their crops and hence, gradually the problem of burning paddy stable will be curbed.
The Court clarified that it was not in support of a total removal of MSP on paddy. At the same, it was also added that farmers are the part of a society and they need to be responsible as well.
Written by:- Dolly Singh Gehlot, College:- BM Law College,Jodhpur , Semester:- 5th an intern under legal vidhiya
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