Stubble Burning: NGT Pulls Up Punjab For Active Fire Despite Supreme Court Directions, Asks To Ensure Compliance

The principal bench of National Green Tribunal (NGT) directed the authorities at Punjab to take the issue of stubble burning “seriously” and fully comply with the direction of the Supreme Court.

The development came after the NGT took suo moto action on the basis of the newspaper report relating to the pollution being caused on account of stubble burning.

Perusing the ISRO satellite image the bench noted that it is depicting the near “real time active agricultural fire in the country.”

A bench of Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava, Justice Sudhir Agarwal and Dr. A. Senthil Vel said, “A perusal of the above image reveals a large number of active agricultural fire incidents in the State of Punjab as the entire State of Punjab is shown as "Red" in that map. The direction issued by the Hon'ble Supreme Court is required to be complied with by all the concerned authorities in true spirit so that a proper compliance can be gathered from taking a real time active agricultural fire report from the ISRO satellite image. It has not been denied that from ISRO satellite image, the longitude and latitude of the pinpointed active agricultural fire incident can be ascertained.”

Thus, concerned authorities at Punjab need to take the issue seriously and fully comply with the direction of the Supreme Court, the Tribunal added.

The Tribunal noted that the issue relating to stubble burning has been taken up by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in M.C. Mehta vs. Union of India & Ors. (In Re: Crop Burning “Only’), wherein the Apex Court issued directions to Punjab and all other States adjacent to Delhi to stop the Crop burning forthwith.

It also highlighted NGT passed an order on November 10 directing the Punjab Pollution Control Board to prepare and place on record the area-wise Crop Residue Management Plan. However, “the plan has not been placed on record till now,” said the bench.

While noting that, “the matter is coming before the Hon’ble Supreme Court on 10.11.2023,” the Tribunal adjourned the case to November 20 and directed to file further action taken report on or before the next date of hearing.

Title: In re: News item appearing in Hindu dated 06.10.2023 titled “Pollution takes a front seat as stubble fires spike in Punjab”

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