NGT hearing slated on Oct. 30

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Tuesday deferred the matter for hearing on October 30 after lawyers appearing for both the parties sought adjournment of the case.

A bench headed by NGT chairperson justice Swatanter Kumar said it would consider later this month the steps taken by the Centre and Punjab and Haryana governments to check burning of crop residue by farmers to curb air pollution.

The tribunal had earlier said that they expect no individual, body, department, panchayat, associations to directly or indirectly recommend or promote burning of crop residues in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana.

On the last date of hearing, the green panel had said the issue of stubble burning by farmers was still going on and had sought the response of the Centre and Punjab and Haryana governments on the burning issue.

It had earlier asked for names and details of all power houses and biomass-based energy plants which can use crop residue for power generation and directed Haryana, UP and Punjab governments to provide a detailed strategy of how happy seeders or balers can be given to farmers.

The NGT also sought a reply from the NTPC as to why it cannot take the stubble from the farmers under its corporate social responsibility programme for the “general cause of environment”.