• By Aditya Jha
  • Sun, 13 Oct 2024 09:07 AM (IST)
  • Source:JND

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has taken some key steps to eliminate the cases of stubble burning in the nearby states of the Delhi NCR. The CAQM, a statutory body, has empowered district magistrates to take legal action against the officials failing to stop the cases of stubble burning in their designated areas. Apart from this, the body has deployed 26 central teams to the key districts of Haryana and Punjab to help the local authorities and generate awareness among the farmers to use the available resources to stop burning stubbles. 

The decision was taken amid increasing cases of stubble burning in the past few weeks. Earlier, the CAQM informed that 267 stubble-burning incidents were reported in Punjab and 187 in Haryana between September 15 and October 9. The CAQM has also urged the district administration and state officials to stay alert amid the harvest season.

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"Taking into account the current situation and to ensure effective implementation of the action plans at the field level, the CAQM has authorised deputy commissioners/district collectors/district magistrates in Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, and NCR areas of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh to file a complaint/prosecution before a jurisdictional judicial magistrate in case of inaction in respect of officials, including nodal officers and supervisory officers and station house officers, responsible for effective enforcement towards ensuring elimination of paddy stubble burning in their respective jurisdiction," a statement said. Apart from this, a special cell has also been set up in Chandigarh to coordinate and monitor actions at the field level continuously.

Earlier, the Supreme Court slammed the CAQM for not taking enough and necessary actions regarding the stubble burning. The apex court pointed out that the board had very few meetings regarding the issue and nothing substantial has been done yet. The court also slammed the Punjab government for not providing the resources to the farmers and complaining about the high costs of the equipment required in the process.