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 burning. Environmental compensation amounting to more than Rs 2 crores has been imposed of which Rs 18 lakhs has been recovered."

The court also asked why the Punjab government doesn’t make the process of crop residue 100% free and said that Punjab should take a cue from the state of Haryana in the manner in which financial incentives are given.

Observes that land in Punjab is becoming arid slowly because the water table is getting depleted, the Supreme Court said, "If the land runs dry, everything else will get affected. Somewhere, the farmers should understand or be made to understand the consequences of growing paddy."

It also asks Attorney General to explore how you can discourage paddy and encourage alternate crops.

Meanwhile, the court also cautioned the Delhi government for not giving funds for the RRTS project.

"Why hasn’t the Delhi government complied with the court’s order?" the court said. "We will stay your (Delhi government’s) advertising budget. We will attach it and take it here."

The court also directed Delhi and Uttar Pradesh government to file reports on incidents of waste burning in the open.