Stubble burning: NGT directs Punjab, Haryana to prepare time-bound action plan for 2024

New Delhi: Terming farm fires a serious problem, the National Green Tribunal has directed Punjab and Haryana to formulate a time-bound plan to tackle stubble burning next year.

A bench of NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava said for next year, i.e., 2024, a comprehensive plan and remedial action need to start at the stage itself.

"We direct the State of Punjab and Haryana to prepare a time-bound action plan disclosing phase-wise proposed action from January 1, 2024, to September 1, 2024, which may include various preventive steps for the next year as also the accountable authorities for implementation of the same," the green panel added.

The NGT was hearing a matter where it had taken cognisance of news reports about the rise in air pollution because of crop residue burning in Punjab.

The bench, also comprising judicial member Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi and expert member A Senthil Vel, said according to a Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) report, there were 36,632 farm fire incidents in Punjab, and 2,285 occurred in Haryana from September 15 to November 28 this year.

It said the issue of paddy residue burning arose mainly between September 15 and November 30.

Noting that the counsel for Punjab has assured it to submit an action plan within six weeks, the tribunal posted the matter for January 19 for the next hearing.