Crop burning not going to stop on its own, consider subsidy, says SC

NEWDELHI:THE Supreme Court on Wednesday said stubble burning, the key reason for rising air pollution in Delhi and NCR, was not going to stop merely by issuing directions and asked the Punjab and Haryana governments to consider granting some kind of subsidy to the farmers.

A bench comprising Justices A K Sikri, S A Nazeer and M R Shah said the court was of the view that the problem of stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana was not going to stop on its own by merely issuing directions and advisory.

“We ourselves are saying that this (directions and advisory) is not going to work... The farmers do not have any cheaper method to deal with the issue of stubble. You consider granting some kind of subsidy to them so that crop burning can stop,” the bench said.

The bench said the farmers will not do it on their own and they should be given some kind of incentive to ensure that stubble burning stops.

The court posted the matter for further hearing on February 26 and asked the parties to compile affidavits and suggestions from experts on pollution.

Prior to this, the apex court had said it will hear in the second week of January a plea seeking steps to curb pollution in Delhincr caused by stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana and had asked the parties to file their affidavits.

It had said that all pending applications, including that of firecracker manufacturers and compliance report of states with regard to use of green crackers, will be taken up for hearing later.

THE COURT SAID THE FARMERS SHOULD BE GIVEN SOME INCENTIVE TO ENSURE STUBBLE BURNING STOPS