The National Green Tribunal ordered the Punjab government to submit a revised action plan for mitigation of air pollution in the state, Delhi and National Capital Region.
A coram of Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava, judicial member Justice Sudhir Agarwal and expert member Dr A Senthil Vil found that the plan submitted by the government earlier lacked a definitive time schedule.
The NGT in its order dated January 19, 2024 stated that there are no proper linkages or manifest system between ex- in situ management. It added that as directed in earlier orders of the Tribunal, unless Area or Block by Block monitoring of management is done, it will be difficult to keep fire incidences under control.
The National Green Tribunal was hearing a matter it had taken up suo motu on October 20, 2023 based on a news report highlighting a spike in air pollution in Punjab due to stubble burning.
Earlier on November 29, 2023, the tribunal had directed the States of Punjab as well as Haryana to prepare a time bound action plan disclosing phase-wise action proposed from January 1, 2024 to September 1, 2024 which may include several preventive steps for the next year.
In terms of these aforesaid directions, the State of Punjab had filed an action plan. Nonetheless, the NGT found it lacking. The tribunal stated that one of the main reasons for stubble burning was the small window farmers get between reaping the harvest and sowing.
The NGT further observed that the short period forces the farmers to burn the stubble which is left in the ground after harvesting. Hence, there is an immediate requirement to handle the stubble and its removal at the earliest so that the farmers do not resort to stubble burning for cleaning the field.
Suggesting certain measures, the NGT directed Punjab to file a fresh action taken report along with an amended action plan at least a week before the next hearing on March 22, 2024. Further, the NGT said that the State should submit periodical reports indicating effective implementation of the action plan.