The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued notices to several environmental bodies, including the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), in response to reports that Madhya Pradesh has recorded the highest number of stubble burning incidents in the country. The state, with 11,382 incidents, has surpassed Punjab, which reported 9,655 cases.
The NGT, led by Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and Expert Member A Senthil Vel, took suo motu cognizance of the matter following a media report highlighting the dramatic rise in such incidents linked to increased paddy cultivation over the last decade. The tribunal’s order, dated December 13, pointed out that the districts of Sheopur and Narmadapuram are the most affected, with 2,424 and 1,462 cases, respectively.
During the hearing, the tribunal noted that some farmers in the report claimed they resorted to burning stubble out of compulsion, lacking viable alternatives. However, it also recognized that farmers in other districts, such as Betul and Balaghat, had adopted sustainable practices for stubble removal.
“The news items attract the provisions of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, and the Environment (Protection) Act. It raises substantial issues relating to compliance with the environmental norms,” stated the tribunal. This highlights the significant environmental concerns and the need for compliance with existing laws aimed at preventing air pollution.
Responding to the tribunal’s concerns, the CAQM, an autonomous body responsible for managing air quality in Delhi and its adjoining areas, along with the Bhopal regional office of the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and member-secretaries of the Central Pollution Control Board and the Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board, have been impleaded as respondents. They are required to file their responses to the tribunal’s queries.
