Farm Fires: DMs Too Can File Complaints

New Delhi: After Supreme Court recently slammed the commission for air quality management (CAQM) for not taking steps to stop stubble burning, the commission said on Saturday that it had empowered deputy commissioners/district collectors/district magistrates to file complaints against officials failing to enforce restrictions in Delhi, Punjab, Haryana and the NCR areas of UP and Rajasthan.From Sept 15 to Oct 9, Punjab and Haryana recorded 267 and 187 farm fires, respectively.
"Taking into account the current situation and with a view to ensuring effective implementation of the action plans at the field level, CAQM, in exercise of the powers vested upon it under Section 14 of the CAQM Act 2021, has authorised the deputy commissioners/district collectors/district magistrates in Punjab, Haryana, NCR areas of Rajasthan and UP, and in Delhi to file a complaint or prosecution before the jurisdictional judicial magistrate, in case of inaction in respect of officials, including nodal officers and supervisory officers at various levels and station house officers, responsible for effective enforcement towards ensuring elimination of paddy stubble burning in their respective jurisdiction," said the commission.
On Sept 27, Supreme Court had criticised CAQM for inaction and asked why no penal action was taken to stop farm fires. The apex court observed that despite the CAQM Act providing extensive powers, no effective measures were implemented.
CAQM has also directed the respective district administrations and the state govts to shoulder higher responsibility and maintain constant and strict vigilance to control any further paddy stubble burning in the harvesting season.
The commission has deputed 26 central teams to the hotspot districts in Punjab and Haryana to maintain close liaison with the district-level authorities in their endeavours to optimise the utilisation of all available resources or means for various in situ/ex situ management applications.
It has also set up a paddy stubble management cell in Chandigarh for coordinated and continuous monitoring of the field-level actions.
"Based on the field experience and learnings during 2021, 2022 and 2023, the action plans for Punjab, Haryana, and NCR districts of UP focusing on the prevention and control of paddy stubble burning during the paddy harvest season have been updated for 2024, targeting the elimination of this unsustainable agricultural practice," said CAQM.