Help farmers stop stubble burning: NGT
NEW DELHI: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Wednesday asked senior Punjab government officials to confer and decide on the aid needed to stop stubble burning and thereby prevent air pollution.
An estimated 35 million tonnes are set afire in Punjab and Haryana in October every year before the sowing season. An IIT Kanpur study has listed stubble burning as the third highest contributor to Delhi’s winter air pollution, after construction dust and vehicular fumes.
The tribunal’s directions came during the hearing on a petition filed by environmentalist Vikrant Tongad, who in 2013 had raised the issue of stubble burning in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.
Over 100 farmers had gath- ered outside the NGT for the hearing on Wednesday. They said they had been living under the fear of action by state governments ever since the tribunal banned stubble burning in 2015. “Today, we told the bench our story. It has now asked the officials to decide how the government will help in terms of machinery and operation costs. They will have to submit the plan on October 11,” said Balveer Singh Rajewal of the Bharatiya Kisan Union-rajewal.
Crop residue is usually set afire due to cost concerns and short time gap between summer and winter crops, besides lack of incentives and equipment to manually cut down the stubble.
The green court on Wednesday asked the state government to look into the problems faced by the farmers and directed its counsel to seek instructions whether compensation could be
Today After 2 days THE GREEN TRIBUNAL ASKED THE PUNJAB GOVERNMENT DETAILS OF THE FARMERS WHO GOT SUBSIDY FOR NOT BURNING STUBBLE
provided to them for disposing their agricultural residue while giving them liberty to engage an agency of their choice.
“As on date, have you been able to find out a single farmer whom you have given incentive to stop stubble burning? Tell us where are those farmers. Show us that you have met people and given them the subsidy. We are really concerned about this,” the bench said.
“You must do something positive. Why don’t you take the entire Patiala district as a project? You give them proper time and make arrangements simultaneously for the harvesting process. It is your Chief Minister’s constituency, you should be happy to help the farmers in this region,” the bench said.
The Punjab government’s counsel told the bench that they have taken Kalar Majri village in Nabha Tehsil of Patiala district, as a model for implementing the directions of the NGT.
During the hearing, the farmers alleged that the state government’s initiative was an “eyewash” as requisite machines were not made available to them.
Advocate IG Kapila, representing the farmers, said the Punjab government was adopting a “selective approach” and the farmers were under tremendous pressure and being harassed in the garb of the NGT order by imposing fines in the name of stubble burning.
The matter has been now listed for hearing on October 11.