Form policy to stop stubble burning: NGT

NEW DELHI : In a bid to curb pollution from stubble burning in northwestern states, just before the onset of winter, the National Green Tribunal on Tuesday directed the chief secretaries of Delhi and four other states to prepare a comprehensive policy and file an affidavit within two weeks.

The action plan would comprise details of incentives for farmers, infrastructure assistance, collection of crop residue and its storage among other steps that each state would take.

A bench headed by Justice Jawad Rahim warned that in case the states — Delhi, UP, Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan — fail to prepare the action plan in time , it would summon the chief secretaries of these states. The matter would be heard next on March 17.

“We require action plans for each state about how you are planning to deal with the matter. It should be signed by the chief secretary. The schemes must contain the incentives so that we can take further action,” the bench observed.

The Centre has already formed a high-level task force to curb pollution in Delhi and NCR with a subcommittee to focus on how to prevent stubble burning in Haryana, UP and Punjab. The subcommittee is also in the process of finalising an action plan to counter environmental pollution arising out of crop residue burning.

The bench observed that the state governments are under obligation to identify the sites in each district for removal, collection and storage of crop residue. But there has been no “concrete” development.

The tribunal rapped the Delhi and Rajasthan governments after they told the bench that they were examining the issue and sought time for filing the action plan.