The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has warned Punjab, Haryana, U.P. and Rajasthan of strict action if they fail to submit action plans regarding prevention of pollution owing to crop burning.
Matter fixed for Aug 11
A Bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar said that it would order attachment of the States’ treasury account if they fail to comply with its directions.
The matter has now been fixed for further hearing on August 11.
‘Last opportunity’
“We grant last opportunity requiring them to file action plans with complete accountability and elements of performance within one week. If compliance is not made, we will be compelled to attach the treasury account of the States concerned,” the Bench said.
Environmentalist’s plea
The order came on a plea filed by environmentalist Vikrant Tongad, who had sought a ban on burning of agricultural waste in open fields.
The NGT noted that “despite our judgment and subsequent orders, the State governments failed to comply with the directions and take precautionary and controlling measures for pollution resulting from crop residue burning”.
Penalty fixed earlier
Earlier, the green court had fixed the environment penalty at ₹2,500 per incident of crop burning for land owners with less than two acres of land, ₹5,000 for land owners holding over two acres and less than five acres, and ₹15,000 for those owning over five acres.
Take coercive action
The Tribunal had also directed the State governments to take coercive and punitive action against persistent defaulters and asked them to withdraw assistance provided to such farmers.