00:00It may not be directly about the pollution crisis, but it is also about what is adding on to it.
00:05It is a festival everyone wants to meet and greet.
00:08We want to be ensuring that we celebrate it as well, sure.
00:12The Chief Justice of India, however, questioning a growing practice of commercialization,
00:17of how gifting and greeting has become a status symbol and not simply about Diwali.
00:23And it is adding to vehicular pollution in Delhi.
00:26This could become a controversial comment as well.
00:28But he is questioning how Diwali has increasingly become commercialized.
00:32It is about expensive gifts, social status, among the affluent, especially an elitist mindset that is set in.
00:40The Supreme Court is calling for a return to more traditional ways.
00:43To celebrate the festival, of course, but don't allow it to become a display of wealth and consumption.
00:49And because of this gifting culture, it is adding on to the vehicular pollution at a time like this.
00:54This is three-judge bench headed by CGI Surya Khan, comprising Justices Jomail Barkchi as well and Veebo Hanna,
01:00hearing a sewer motor case on Delhi's NCR air pollution.
01:03And the hearing opened with a pointed remark from the Chief Justice of India.
01:07I quote it here.
01:08I hope you all are enjoying the weather in Delhi.
01:12The court flagged vehicular emissions as a major contributor of the pollution crisis,
01:17expressing concern over bumper-to-bumper traffic on roads that connects Delhi with other NCR cities.
01:22And is public transport not adequate, not enough?
01:26Because that can help reduce people's dependence on private vehicles.
01:29The court has also said that an earlier direction to prevent vehicles from weather idling at toll plazas,
01:35is that not being implemented, what about the measures that have been taken,
01:39even though Centre did get a word of appreciation from the court on the measures taken,
01:44but also mentioned it isn't enough.
01:47Our legal correspondent, Anisha Mathur, breaking it down for us.
01:50Anisha, is it the gifting culture that the court pointed to?
01:55Is it the commercialisation?
01:56Is it saying, don't celebrate festivals?
01:59What is it specifically that the court pointed at?
02:01See, Pooja, in very simple terms, what the court was pointing out was the fact that vehicular pollution
02:08is the single largest contributor to pollution in Delhi NCR,
02:12outside of these 12 days, 15 days of stubble burning.
02:16Because the court is looking at all the sources of pollution in the national capital region.
02:22The top, of course, being in this season, is stubble burning.
02:26And on that, good news given by the Centre, claiming at least,
02:30that there has been a significant reduction of almost 90% in Punjab and 98% in Haryana
02:36between 2021 and 2026 when it comes to stubble burning cases.
02:42That there has, the paddy residue burning cases have in fact reduced by more than 90%
02:48in both Punjab and Haryana.
02:50But then came the second big issue, vehicular pollution.
02:54The bench started with the question of traffic jams, idling of traffic at toll collection plazas.
03:02And then came the question, well, can the bar members themselves reach Supreme Court
03:07without getting stuck in jams?
03:09On that point, a senior lawyer present in the court pointed out that, well,
03:13if that is to be the case, then maybe the culture of gifting
03:15and people travelling around the city to give gifts should be questioned as well.
03:20And the court said, that needs a cultural relook.
03:24We need to remember what the festival or the culture is all about.
03:28What is interesting to note, however, Pooja, is the fact that the Supreme Court,
03:33after taking note of what the farmers were doing,
03:35has gone straight to what the elites of the national capital region are doing.
03:39It is the big vehicles, it is the SUVs, the gas guzzlers that were in the crosshairs of the Supreme
03:46Court,
03:47which again and again said, how are you ensuring that BS6 vehicles only are operating?
03:53How are you ensuring that vehicles from outside NCR, when they come into Delhi,
03:58are not polluting?
03:59Because even if it comes in for a short period, it will still pollute.
04:03How are you ensuring that these big SUVs with one single person in it,
04:07which is travelling around the city and leading to traffic jams, is going to be controlled?
04:13And in that context, the court said, there needs to be a cultural shift,
04:18that people need to remember what the festival is all about.
04:22And that is where the Supreme Court bench also mentioned...
04:25But also, of course, the fact is that even before the festival,
04:27there's already been pollution to such a level that's caused respiratory concerns and other ailments.
04:32Anisha Mathur tracking all the latest from the legal corridors.
04:35Anisha, thank you very much for now.
04:36Because what the Supreme Court also said were crucial remarks on the issue of stubble burning
04:40that is leading to this massive pollution in Delhi.
04:42The court is asking for a more practical approach to tackle stubble burning farm fire
04:47because the farmers also need support.
04:49They need financial incentives so that they can stop setting their own fields on fire.
04:54The bench that was headed by the CGI took note of some of the steps that have been taken
04:58to address the farm fire issue.
05:00And the fact is that the stubble burning cases have come down over the past five to six years.
05:06And that is where the centre did get a word of appreciation in how the farmers were being helped.
05:11But the court then also made it clear enforcement alone cannot solve the problem.
05:15Farmers need to not only be made aware of alternatives,
05:19they need to be provided with alternatives that are accessible,
05:22financially viable and helping them as well to sow the next crop.
05:26The court suggested putting gram panchayats at the centre of the process.
05:29So don't think that gram panchayats are just about a local issue.
05:33They can help impact villages, towns and even cities.
05:37The idea is to make crop residue management facilities available at village level
05:42rather than expect individual farmers to arrange machinery on their own.
05:46The bench stressing that the need to spread awareness and involve local bodies,
05:51farmers will then understand the benefit of managing stubble without burning it.
05:56If you are wondering why is that important?
05:59Stubble burning has been a major contributor to pollution in Delhi and NCR,
06:04especially as the wind blows toward Delhi,
06:06even if stubble burning is not reported from National Capital.
06:09Punjab is the biggest culprit of it right now,
06:12where farm fires are still being reported.
06:14What are the numbers telling us?
06:16Our team dug deep and found out the recorded numbers.
06:202,787 incidents of stubble burning this season itself.
06:255th of November, 88% of Punjab's Pari region had been harvested.
06:30This means the window to prevent further farm fire is narrowing.
06:37It's also therefore important to flag otherwise what the Supreme Court has said on multiple levels.
06:42Remember, barely about a few days ago, because of the upcoming festival,
06:46there's also an alternative to that, so people can enjoy the festival
06:49without feeling that there is any sort of restriction.
06:52And that was about the firecrackers.
06:54The court had pointed very clearly earlier this week,
06:57and the order, that can have far-reaching consequences.
07:00The Supreme Court, remember, ordered that the use of firecrackers shall be confined
07:04between 6 to 7 a.m. and 8 to 10 p.m. on the two days.
07:10That is, on the day before Diwali, which is called the Chhoti Diwali,
07:13and of course on the big day.
07:15Bursting of crackers will not be allowed within a 300-meter radius of hospitals,
07:20nursing homes, primary and district health centers,
07:24old-age homes, and any notified silent zones.
07:27This is what the court has said, which means there will be zones declared as no-cracker zones
07:32that shall be marked on the ground, that shall be published, according to the court order.
07:36The same restrictions shall also be applicable to educational institutions.
07:40But what about firecrackers where the green crackers have come in?
07:44The court had said, and I quote it here,
07:47imposition of a blanket ban seems to be the ideal solution, according to the court,
07:51but the court is short of adequate data on that,
07:54to decide whether a complete ban is the best solution.
07:57And therefore, at this point, it is imperative
07:59that the earlier restrictions that have happened have served its purpose.
08:04There has been no significant improvement in AQI, despite 2024 ban as well.
08:10So, of course, pushing forward, if possible, for people to use the green crackers.
08:14That's the first place.
08:14So, the next part, with the Forrest, will be used in AQI, with the last one.
08:14So, you'll see it, I'll see it, this is a flashback, and I'll see it.
08:15So, that's a flashback.
08:15I'll see it later.
