Insta
Produce 21 Farmers You Have Helped To Stop Stubble Burning: NGT To Punjab Government
The National Green Tribunal
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Punjab government to produce before it 21 farmers which it claimed to have helped by giving incentives and infrastructural facilities to prevent them from burning crop residue in a bid to check air pollution.
Over a hundred farmers had gathered outside the NGT premises today to attend the hearing on the issue and put forth their submissions and grievances through a lawyer before a bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar.
The bench took exception to the fact that even after more than two years, nothing substantial has been done with regard to stubble burning.
It directed the Punjab government to produce the 21 farmers before it on 13 October after the state told the NGT that it had provided assistance to them to encourage them not to burn crop residue.
During the proceedings, advocate I G Kapila, appearing for the farmers, referred to a newspaper report and said the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) and a few biomass power units have expressed their intent to purchase crop residue from farmers in surrounding states.
He said the NTPC and representatives of other companies were willing to cut and buy crop residue from the fields. Kapila, on behalf of the large number of farmers who had gathered outside the NGT to attend the hearing, said the state government had not taken any concrete step to help the farmers.
Punjab government had earlier said that they have taken Kalar Majri village in Nabha Tehsil of Patiala district as a model project for implementing the directions of the NGT and to sensitise the farmers. While the farmers of Kalar Majri village, which has around 390 acres of land under the paddy crop, were yet to get machinery or financial assistance by the government, the neighbouring villages have started setting their fields on fire, a farmer said outside the courtroom. (PTI)
Introducing ElectionsHQ + 50 Ground Reports Project
The 2024 elections might seem easy to guess, but there are some important questions that shouldn't be missed.
Do freebies still sway voters? Do people prioritise infrastructure when voting? How will Punjab vote?
The answers to these questions provide great insights into where we, as a country, are headed in the years to come.
Swarajya is starting a project with an aim to do 50 solid ground stories and a smart commentary service on WhatsApp, a one-of-a-kind. We'd love your support during this election season.
Click below to contribute.
Latest
