Fines start again: PPCB
PATIALA:THE spurt in the number of cases of stubble burning over this week is rooted in the state’s failure to take stringent action, in the form of fines, against those violating the ban on the practice since mid-september.
Officials claim that confusion over the Punjab and Haryana high court order then had led to no fine being imposed since. They added that farm unions used this opportunity to misguide farmers.
Now, however, clarity seems to have emerged. Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) member secretary, Krunesh Garg, said, on Wednesday, that after taking legal opinion on court orders, the board had directed field staff and the district administration to carry out field visits and take punitive action against those violating the ban. Farmers who burn paddy stubble are liable to be booked under Section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by a public servant) of the IPC.
The punishment is simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to one month or with fine which may extend to ₹200, or with both.
Under the National Green Tribunal (NGT), fines are to be recovered from farmers based on the area over which the offence in committed. Every instance merits punishment.
NO FINES IMPOSED FOR OVER A MONTH
Last year, state government agencies, including the PPCB, in assistance with district administration officials visited 30,550 burning sites, of 45,000 reported cases. The agencies had imposed
environmental compensation of ₹1 crore on 3,690 farmers.
This year, however, the state government is yet to start issuing challans. The PPCB had collected compensation of ₹15.7 lakh before the HC stayed the recovery of environmental compensation imposed on farmers in September this year on a plea that farm union leaders had filed.
“The board collects stubble burning data and sends districtwise locations gathered from the Punjab Remote Sensing Centre (PRSC), Ludhiana, to district administrations concerned for action,” Garg said.
He added on Wednesday, officials visited 1,270 burning sites across the state, of which 444 sites were found not to be involved. “We have asked district authorities to take the required action against the remaining 826 sites,” Garg added.
Bharatiya Kisan Union (Dakaunda) general secretary Jagmohan Singh said farmers had no alternative than to burn
paddy stubble as the government had failed to provide any assistance to stop the menace to farmers.
“Providing machinery won’t help, as in order to dispose of stubble over one acre, a farmer has to spend at least ₹5,000. How can farmers afford this when they are a l ready under financial distress? We are demanding ₹200 per quintal from the state government to manage stubble,” he said, adding that this was a demand that was critical to controlling the menace.
The board collects stubble burning data and sends district-wise locations to respective administrations for action. We asked for action against 826 sites where stubble was found to be burnt on Wednesday.
KRUNESH GARG, PPCB member secretary