Meanwhile, the Delhi High Court said on Tuesday that stubble burning was the “main villain” behind the severe level of pollution in the Capital. It also asked the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government and nearby States about steps they have taken to address the issue.
A Bench of Justices S. Ravindra Bhat and Sanjeev Sachdeva said October-January was a “critical period” when the air quality in Delhi is poor due to weather conditions.
“It [air quality] is already loaded [with dust], but stubble burning is the trigger. It becomes the main villain,” the court said, adding that besides stubble burning, dust and construction debris also contribute towards poor air quality.
The Bench was hearing a PIL initiated by it in 2015 on the issue.Senior advocate Kailash Vasdev, the amicus curiae in the matter, told the court that its orders were not being complied with and it was time that action be taken against the officials concerned.