Delhi-NCR Air Pollution: Farmers Can't Be Made Villain, Observes SC; Says Punjab Should Take Cue From Haryana
Delhi-NCR Air Pollution: Farmers Can't Be Made Villain, Observes SC; Says Punjab Should Take Cue From Haryana The court also asked why the Punjab government doesn’t make the process of crop residue 100% free. NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday came down heavily on the Punjab government amid 'very poor' air quality in Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) and said that farmers can't be made villains. The court was hearing a batch of petitions related to toxic air in the national capital. Stating that Punjab government’s report suggests that 8,481 meetings have been held with farmers and farm leaders to convince them not to burn paddy straws by SHOs, the apex court observed, "Farmers are being made a villain, and they are not being heard here in the court. They must have some reasons for burning stubble." Supreme court also recorded in its order that upward trend in farm fires has not abated. "984 FIRs have been lodged against landowners for stubble bu...