पराली जलाने

With the increase in the amount of stubble burning across Punjab, most of the villages of the state also have haze. This year the total number of incidents in Punjab has touched the figure of 1,027.

Paddy harvesting has started in all the states of India. Like every year, this year also incidents of burning straw are being seen in Punjab. However, there has been a significant increase in cases of stubble burning this year. As a result, there is a haze situation in most villages of the state. According to the report of Tribune India, the cases of field fires in this season are much higher than the last two years. This is raising questions on spending crores of rupees to ban the burning of crop residues by the government. It is to be known that 58 cases of stubble burning have been filed in Punjab on Monday. With this, the total number of incidents has reached the four digits of 1,027 this year.

Increase in cases of stubble burning

Significantly, till date, excessive incidents of field fires in Punjab were being recorded from the border areas. At present, farmers in Malwa region have started burning paddy straw. Its effect will also be seen on the air quality of Punjab and Delhi. According to data from the Punjab Remote Sensing Center (PRSC), 58 stubble burning incidents in the state were captured by a satellite on 9 October. At the same time, in 2021, 114 stubble burning incidents were recorded on the same day. Also, three such cases were reported in 2022.

Also read: Central government takes necessary steps for stubble management, 600 crores given to three states

Incidents of stubble burning broke the record of the last two years

The matter of concern is that the total number of this year 1027 is much higher than the related data for the last two years. During 2022 and 2021, Punjab had 714 and 614 incidents respectively till 9 October. Indeed, the cases till date are 43.8% higher than the previous year and 67% more than 2021 figures (till 9 October). Overall, in 2022, 49,900 fields were reported to be fired. 71,304 in 2021; 76,590 in 2020; And 52,991 incidents were reported in 2019.

Possibility of increase in cases of stubble burning - Agriculture Department

An official of the Agriculture Department says that "farmers in Sangrur, Patiala and Ludhiana have started harvesting crops and in these three districts, the field fire will increase considerably by next week." Experts say that "nothing special can be done, as the farmers are adamant on compensation of Rs 2,500 per acre. However, the government has not agreed at all. ” Also, the Amritsar administration has imposed a fine of Rs 6.97 lakh on 279 people for burning stubble.

As you all know, the Supreme Court has expressed its displeasure over the stubble burning in Punjab despite the court's order. "Why should the farmers who are burning stubble get any financial benefit, those who have burnt stubble and are red-flagged should be denied the benefits of minimum support price, besides registration of FIR and imposition of fine on them," the court said. The government should do something for their welfare.

Governments should stop blaming each other. SC 

"When Haryana can do it, why can't Punjab," the court said while commenting on the Punjab government's attitude in preventing stubble burning. The court asked the Punjab government to inform it on the next date how many farmers have been fined for stubble burning and how much of it has been recovered. The court said there should be no politics over the issue. One should not blame or compare one with the other. The Centre and the state should forget politics and find a long-term solution. These observations, suggestions and orders were made by a bench of Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Sudhanshu Dhulia while hearing a matter on air pollution in Delhi-NCR.

Whats the punjab take on this ?

Punjab has said that stubble burning has reduced significantly as compared to the past. A total of 984 FIRs have been registered. He has also been fined Rs two lakh. Flying squads have been deployed to prevent stubble burning in the fields. But, people do not allow them to reach, the road is blocked. Law and order is also a problem. To this, the bench said, "The SHO has been made responsible in the order. You can't talk about law and order. To this, Attorney General R Venkataramani, appearing for the Centre, referred to the Centre's status report and said Punjab had paid only 6621 environmental compensation. In Punjab, 3415 challans, Rs. 86.8 lakh fine and 473 FIRs have been registered.

NGT had pulled the legs of the Punjab government regarding pollution and stubble burning. NGT  had criticised the state government for failing in following the orders of supreme court to immediately stop the burning of stubble.

National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Punjab and Haryana government to prepare a roadmap to reduce stubble burning cases in 2024. Tribunal commented that “you will forget about all this and next year you'll again burn stubble”. NGT had directed states to prepare a time-bound plan ( action plan) along with different preventive steps for the upcoming year. For the stance on Delhi pollution, the Tribunal scolded aur quality management commission just to implement and debard the GRAP. NGT stated that CAQM is working on its own. What is the work of CAQM? They just cancel and implement GRAP. They are never present in 90% of their committee meetings.

NGT showed disappointment regarding increasing cases of stubble burning. 

NGT enquired Punjab government before this about increasing cases of pollution and burning of stubble. NGT  had criticised the state government for failing in following the orders of supreme court to immediately stop the burning of stubble. The NGT showed disappointment to the Punjab government for not taking necessary steps to prevent stubble burning. 

NGT stated government responsible for stubble burning 

NGT stated it as the ‘complete failure of management’ and said, “ at the time when issue was raised, stubble burning cases were around 600 and now it has increased to a number of 33,000 cases, even on the facts that NGT and supreme court discussing over this and you are telling that you are taking actions”. NGT stated that ‘this is a complete failure of management’. The whole system is working and you failed. 

NGT enquired Punjab advocates 

NGT also called on the Punjab government to play a ‘ selective role in charging trials on violators’. Because the Punjab advocate said that he filed an FIR against only 829 people out of 1500 for burning stubble in one day. This is only one-fourth of the one day cases. NGT on this stated to the Punjab government that why similar actions are not to be taken against all of them? Meanwhile, in the increase in the level of Delhi pollution, the supreme court clearly directed haryana, uttar pradesh, rajasthan and Punjab on 7 November that burning agricultural remains should be immediately stopped and we can't let people die out of pollution.