The Tribunal asked the state to consider if the state can provide direct monetary incentive to the farmers in return for putting a stop to crop burning
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Wednesday pulled up the Punjab government for failing to provide financial aid and machinery to farmers in environment friendly disposal of crop residue, which is one of the major causes of air pollution in North India and Delhi-NCR. The Tribunal directed the Punjab government to provide a solution for the farmers after consulting them and asked the state's counsel to take instructions from the Chief Secretary on providing financial incentives to farmers for stubble management.
"The government has not been able to provide alternatives in time. Take a whole village and show that it can be done. You give them proper time and make arrangements simultaneously for the harvesting process. It is your Chief Minister's constituency, you should be more than happy to help the farmers. If you put them under financial losses and ask them to do environmental work, how will you do it?," the bench said.
The Tribunal asked the state to consider if the state can provide direct monetary incentive to the farmers in return for putting a stop to crop burning. "You need to get involved with them and take them into confidence. If they want, allow them to also engage private agencies," the bench added. Meanwhile, counsel for Punjab government submitted that following the Tribunal's orders they are running a pilot for paddy straw management in Kalar Majri village, Patiala, across 390 acres.
A three-member NGT bench, headed by Justice Swatanter Kumar, was hearing a plea filed by environment activist Vikrant Tongad, pertaining to stubble burning across Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. Along with vehicular pollution and firecrackers, widespread stubble burning has been attributed as one of the major causes for the record lows in air quality seen last winter before and after Diwali in Delhi-NCR.
On Wednesday, hundreds of farmers from Punjab and Haryana, affiliated to the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Rajewal) also turned up at the NGT as the farmers union had filed an intervention in the stubble burning plea. The union's President Balbir Singh Rajewal submitted to the bench that the state had provided alternatives only on paper as they have never met with actual farmers. Rajewal stressed that financial burden already mounting, burning still was the cheapest solution for stubble management.
"The machinery needed for managing stubble costs lakhs of rupees. It costs us Rs.6,000 per acre to manage the crop stubble and it is not feasible at all," Rajewal informed the bench. IG Kapila, the counsel for the farmers said, "The state government is using the NGT's orders to scare the farmers about penal action against them. It is also misleading them on the machinery available at their disposal."
Tuesday's hearing happened a day after Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh's meeting with Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Radha Mohan Singh. The Punjab CM sought central aid to farmers for tackling the crop burning issue and demanded Rs.100 per quintal as a bonus for sound management of paddy straw.
‘JUST ON PAPER’
- On Wednesday, hundreds of farmers from Punjab and Haryana, affiliated to the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Rajewal) also turned up at the NGT as the farmers union had filed an intervention in the stubble burning plea.
- The union’s President Balbir Singh Rajewal submitted to the bench that the state had provided alternatives only on paper as they have never met with actual farmers.
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