Punjab and Haryana do not take penal action against stubble burning; silent air quality panel: Supreme Court

Stubble burning refers to the practice of farmers setting fire to the straw stubble that remains in fields after harvesting cereals like wheat and paddy. The stubble is burned to prepare the fields for the next round of crops. This is the simplest and cheapest way to clear fields, but it causes a drastic decline in air quality.

A bench of judges Abhay S Oka, Ahsanuddin Amanullah And Augustin George Masih said all the states have done is collect token compensation from farmers who indulge in stubble burning.

The Commission on Air Quality Management (CAQM) has also taken no steps to ensure that its own guidance is implemented by states, the Court noted.

“For various reasons, they don’t want to prosecute anyone. The problem is as simple as that. They don’t want to pursue criminal charges, only hold meetings. All the states have done is collect symbolic compensation from “The Commission itself At first glance appears to be making no effort to follow up on the implementation of its instructions regarding enforcement and safeguarding, no action is evidently being taken for its own orders. . said the Court.

The state of Punjab has argued that farmers cannot use happy seeders (which remove stubble) because 70% of farmers are marginal and will have to employ drivers and use diesel, which they do not want.

“We have written to Delhi for grants also subject to agreement from the centre, but for around 1,200 crores and 375 crores each for Delhi and Punjab,” » Said Punjab Advocate General (AG), Gurminder Singh.

He also said that states do not have the authority to resort to criminal measures.

“We are banned”, said the AG.

“This is wrong. Under the Environmental Protection Law you can do this,” said the Court.

Therefore, it directed the states of Punjab and Haryana to comply with the directions of the CAQM and file an affidavit of compliance within a week.

“The Commission must ensure that firm measures are taken to ensure the implementation of its guidelines,” ordered the Court.