Centre: Stubble burning in Punjab up 7 pc, down by 17 pc in Haryana

With pollution from stubble burning in neighbouring states "chocking" Delhi year after year, Supreme Court was Monday informed that it has gone up by 7 per cent in Punjab and decreased by around 17 per cent in Haryana. apex court was informed by Centre that stubble burning contributed about 46 per cent to pollution in Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) followed by waste and garb burning, construction and demolition.

A bench of justices Arun Mishra and Deepak Gupta was informed by Additional Solicitor General A N S Nadkarni, appearing for Centre, that instances of stubble burning were high in four districts of Punjab -- Tarn Taran, Sangrur, Firozpur, and Patiala.  Senior advocate Aparajita Singh, assisting top court as an amicus curiae in pollution matter, told bench that though Centre has said in its affidavit that y have provided machines to farmers to curb instances of stubble burning, still it has gone up by 7 per cent in Punjab.

"We have to call every concerned official and settle this," bench said.

To this, amicus said, " court should call chief secretaries of se states. This cant go on. Supreme Court has passed every possible order in this regard". During hearing, bench said though Punjab is "rice bowl" of country, it cant allow stubble burning re as it violates right to life of citizens by putting ir lives at risk.

amicus said Centre has stated that it has given machines to farmers at subsidised rates to prevent stubble burning.    

"As per affidavit of Union of India, stubble burning has gone up in Punjab and gone down in Haryana. As per affidavit, active fire in Punjab has increased by seven per cent. It says in Haryana, it has decreased by 17 per cent. How this is possible?" amicus said.

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't given required information yet' - Centre 

Regarding stubble burning in western Uttar Pradesh, Centre said y have t got requisite information yet. During hearing, bench was given satellite imry of stubble burning in Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh.

bench said that authorities, right from level of chief secretary to gram panchayat level, have to ensure that stubble burning takes place henceforth and in case of violation, y would be hauled up by court.

"Law of tort (which deals with remedy for civil wrong) will apply to se states. Gram Panchayats will also be held liable," bench said while terming prevailing situation as "grim".

It directed chief secretaries of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to appear before it on vember 6.  It also asked se three states to explain why y should t be asked to pay compensation for dam caused due to severe pollution in area on principle of polluter pays.

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bench also directed gram pradhans of se states and concerned station house officer (SHO) of police station to prepare an inventory of those who have indulged in stubble burning. It asked gram pradhans to advise villrs t to involve in stubble burning as this causes severe pollution in and around area.

bench said though Centre and concerned states are alive to situation, steps have to be taken forthwith with help of experts to tackle situation. During hearing, bench asked Centre to call environment experts from Indian Institute of Techlogy (IIT) Delhi and Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF&CC).

When experts came to court, bench asked m about immediate steps which could be taken to deal with situation. bench asked about possibility of cloud seeding but IIT expert said that it was t possible in such a vast area.

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Steps taken to deal with pollution

Joint secretary of MoEF&CC told court about steps which government has taken to deal with issue and said that "at highest level" efforts are being made. bench also asked IIT expert as to wher sprinkling of water in area can be done by helicopter.

expert said that water sprinklers from vehicles would help in tackling pollution from dust on roads.  At fag end of hearing, counsel appearing for Haryana told bench that since Assembly session was on in state, appearance of chief secretary should be dispensed with and instead, principal secretary would appear in court on vember 6.

"Let chief secretary come. Chief secretary, chief secretary, and only chief secretary will have to be here or we can adjourn Assembly session also," bench said. bench passed a slew of directions in matter to curb severe air pollution in region. 

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