SC raps Commission for Air Quality Management over pollution, stubble burning
New Delhi (PTI): The Supreme Court Friday rapped the Commission for Air Quality Management over its failure to curb air pollution due to crop residue burning.
A bench of Justice Abha S Oka and Justice Augustine George Masih said the air quality panel needs to be more active in its approach.
The top court said efforts are needed to ensure that stubble-burning alternative equipment are used at the grassroots level.
It directed the panel to file a better compliance report.
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Pulitzer winner Jhumpa Lahiri declines NYC museum award in protest against Keffiyeh ban
Keffiyehs, scarf symbolizing Palestinian solidarity was recently banned by museum
Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jhumpa Lahiri has garnered widespread praise on social media for her decision to decline an award from a New York City museum that recently dismissed employees for wearing keffiyehs, a scarf symbolizing Palestinian solidarity.
Lahiri was set to receive the prestigious 2024 Isamu Noguchi Award from the Noguchi Museum, an honor that recognizes individuals who embody the innovative spirit and creative commitment of Japanese-American sculptor Isamu Noguchi. The award is highly regarded in the arts community and celebrates those who have made significant contributions to culture and creativity.
However, on Wednesday, the museum issued a statement confirming that Lahiri had chosen to withdraw her acceptance of the award. "Jhumpa Lahiri has chosen to withdraw her acceptance of the 2024 Isamu Noguchi Award in response to our updated dress code policy," the statement read. "We respect her perspective and understand that this policy may or may not align with everyone's views."
The controversy surrounding the Noguchi Museum began in August when the institution, located in the borough of Queens and founded nearly 40 years ago by Isamu Noguchi, terminated three employees. The museum also introduced a new dress code policy prohibiting staff from wearing clothing or symbols that convey overt political messages, slogans, or symbols during work hours. The decision to fire employees for wearing keffiyehs, which are widely recognized as symbols of Palestinian solidarity, sparked backlash and criticism from various quarters.
