Amid a surge in pollution levels in the Delhi-NCR region, the Supreme Court has issued a stringent directive to all the adjoining states, demanding an immediate halt to crop residue burning. The prevailing pollution levels have also reached an alarming crescendo this year. The situation has escalated to the extent that the Delhi-NCR region is now akin to a noxious gas chamber. The consequential outcome is the looming spectre of health hazards that imperil the entire populace. Multiple contributing factors are at play, and regrettably, both past and present governments have made feverish attempts to rein in this crisis. Pervasive construction activities and the burgeoning vehicular population serve as perennial sources of contamination. Despite attempts to phase out antiquated and diesel-powered vehicles, the desired outcomes have remained elusive as the vehicular population proli-ferates exponentially with each passing month. These two principal pollutants are further exacerbated by the detrimental practices of stubble burning and the use of barium in firecrackers.
Different states, governed by disparate political parties, have proven ineffective in curbing the practice of stubble burning. Given the prevailing wind patterns directing the airborne pollutants towards the NCR, stubble burning wreaks havoc on the region’s air quality. With winter already setting in, the polluted air remains trapped near the ground, compounding the woes of the residents. Matters are poised to worsen with the advent of firecracker festivities during the upcoming holiday season. Efforts to provide cost-effective solutions to stubble burning have encountered repeated setbacks. Simultaneously, initiatives to enhance green cover and the installation of smog towers are conspicuous by their absence from governmental endeavours. Presently, the issue of pollution has metamorphosed into a political quagmire, overshadowing its identity as a grave public health crisis. The SC has aptly issued directives to halt stubble burning immediately. The resolution of the issue hinges on the imperative of all stakeholders acting in concert with the highest degree of earnestness and unswerving unity of purpose.
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