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DEAL WITH STUBBLE CROP BURNING AS THE SAME WAY LIKE OTHER CRIMES- NATIONAL GREEN TRIBUNAL
Expressing discontentment over the steps taken by the states to curb stubble crop burning, the National Green Tribunal has seen that a bit like imposing law to stop alternative crimes, the state governments need to own responsibility to forestall pollution. The NGT said the fact remains that in spite of efforts made by the authorities, burning of crop is still taking place on the ground level with all its adverse consequences on public health and setting that no officer is being control responsible. "Just like imposing law to stop alternative crimes, the State has to own responsibility to enforce law to prevent pollution. The States are not doing this effectively. The States ought to take applicable action against failure of its officers for preventing pollution caused by crop burning in such manner as may even be applicable."The strategy may be making awareness, giving incentives or taking punitive action. It is unfortunate that the States have didn't perform its duty and have just pleaded helplessness on the bottom that no matter action was potential are taken," the tribunal same in its order uploaded on Wednesday.The NGT said that even after information from satellite imagery there is hardly any tangible action to stop violations. The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 provides for prohibiting burning of any material which is likely to cause air pollution and enforcing such prohibition in an appropriate manner including prosecution and recovery of compensation.
Voicing concern, the bench said that even in five years if the State machinery is not able to communicate to the farmers concerned the techniques of sowing crops whereas not burning of the crop residue of the paddy, it's associate "unhappy situation" that has to be remedied. "If an incentive is to run, it's for the State to come to a decision and supply for identical. Even central funds or schemes don't seem to be totally used. It is undisputed that unmoved degradation of paddy residue is helpful to the soil fertility whereas burning of crop leads to requiring additional fertiliser and fewer yield and injury to the soil. Such results needs to be ensured by the State by correct observation. The Tribunal directed the states to file an action-taken report by November 15, the next date of hearing. It had ordered constitution of special cells within the workplace of the city cabinet minister and neighbour states to watch daily the pollution caused by burning of crop residue. Similar cells may be required at the offices of district magistrates or at such other levels as may be considered necessary by the state authorities, it said.
