The Supreme Court of India asked five states -- including Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan -- to provide a detailed account of the measures implemented to combat the problem of air pollution.

A three-judge bench headed by Justice SK Kaul and comprising Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and P K Mishra, gave the states a week to file the affidavits, slating the matter for hearing on November 7 next, as reported by IndiaToday.

Raising serious concerns, the court noted that the impact of air pollution on future generations will be huge. It also noted that the pollution has made it increasingly difficult to step outside, particularly during what used to be considered the best time of the day in Delhi.

The court highlighted the recurring nature of this issue, noting that it happens year after year. The bench also said crop burning is one of the main reasons for air pollution in Delhi.

The hearing concluded with the Supreme Court instructing the Central Pollution Control Board to submit a tabular report detailing the current ground situation, including parameters like the Air Quality Index (AQI) and the number of fires.

The top court had earlier sought a report from the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on the steps being taken to control air pollution in and around Delhi.