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<ul><li>India’s Supreme Court has issued a blanket ban on stubble burning in Punjab, Haryana and UP to keep Delhi’s air quality from getting worse. </li><li>“Farmers cannot kill others for their own livelihood,” said Justice Arun Mishra. </li><li>The administration at large will be held responsible for any stubble fires going forward. </li><li>The Supreme Court will hold another hearing on Wednesday where chief secretaries from the respective states have been asked to explain why there is on fine against stubble burning. </li></ul>India’s Supreme Court called for a hearing to address the national capital’s deteriorating air quality and the bench is coming down hard on stubble burning. Justice Arun Mishra, one of the judges presiding over the hearing, asserted that farmers in Haryana and Punjab can’t “kill others for their own livelihood”. He also pointed out that stubble burning isn’t harming the people of Delhi but also the residents in their states. The court has directed all crop burning to stop immediately. If caught, the entire administration will be held responsible. Another hearing will be held on Wednesday on the matter. Chief secretaries of Punjab, Haryana and UP have been asked to attend the hearing. They will be asked to explain why stubble burning shouldn’t be fined and is still prevalent in their states. Accusing the center and state governments of passing the buck, Mishra blamed them for “making a mockery of the system”, to the point that people are being advised not to venture into the city. “This cannot happen in a civilised country. Right to life is most important,” he said. Putting out the fires The Joint Secretary from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF) told the bench that satellite feed of the active fires have been shared with the relevant authorities. Following which the Additional Solicitor General (ASG) of India , Atmaram Nadkarni, informed the court that the fires have been extinguished. He said the next step is to make sure that no new fires come up. The MoEF wanted to use a reward system to entice people into reporting fires but the court felt that questioned whether leaving it up to informers would be enough. Instead, it has put police and local administration in charge of making sure that stubble burning does not take place. Supreme Court bring down the hammer In addition to restricting all stubble burning, the Supreme Court has also put a blanket ban on all demolition and construction activity in the National Capital Region (NCR). Should construction continue despite the ban, the local administration will be held liable. A fine of ₹1 lakh will be levied on those found engaging in such activities. Those found burning garbage will also have to face a fine of ₹5,000. The Delhi government has been asked to explain how it justifies restricting the movement of private vehicles through the odd-even scheme, but allows 2-wheelers, 3-wheelers and taxis to continue their operations uninterrupted. “Delhi is choking every year and we are not able to do anything. Every time this is happening for ten to fifteen days,” said Justice Arun Mishra.

‘Farmers cannot kill others for their own livelihood’ — Supreme Court issues blanket ban on stubble burning in 3 states

New Delhi, Jan 31 () Agriculture crop residue burning as well as construction and demolition waste continues to be major concerns, the Economic Survey said on Friday adding that Delhi's public-private-partnership model in construction-related waste management should be replicated by other states and cities.
 Emphasising on the need to use recycled products in construction, the Survey lauded the Delhi public-private-partnership (PPP) model in construction and demolition (C&amp;D) waste management as it supports the Swachch Bharat Mission and supporting the Sustainable Development Goals.
 "Burning of agricultural residues, leading to rise in pollutant levels and deterioration of air quality, is still a major concern though the total number of burning events recorded reduced due to various efforts taken," the Survey said.
 However, continuation of this practice by farmers is reported every year starting winter and serious concerns about its impact on air quality are raised, it said.
 About 178 million tonnes of surplus crop residues are available in the country. Burning of these residues leads to rise in pollutant levels and deterioration of air quality.
 Varieties of surplus crop residues are burnt especially in northern States of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan depending on the agro-climatic region.
 However, about 50 per cent of all crop residue burnt in the country are residues of rice crop. Emission pollutants released due to burning depends on the type of crop residue.
 Unscientific disposal of C&amp;D waste is one of the key contributors to the air and water pollution, the Survey said and added the annual consumption of construction materials (sand, soil and stone) in India is estimated to be 3,100 million tonnes.
 As per a study conducted by IIT Kanpur in 2015, C&amp;D is a key contributor towards particulate matter emissions in Delhi. Therefore, investing in a circular economy driven approach in C&amp;D waste management should have large payoff in terms of avoiding health and environmental damage, it added.
 A C&amp;D recycling facility in Delhi was set up in 2009 by Municipal Corporation of Delhi and IL&amp;FS Environmental Infrastructure and Services Ltd at Burari to address the waste generated during Commonwealth Games preparations.
 Since then, the Burari facility along with two other C&amp;D recycling facilities in Delhi are together recycling over 2,650 tonnes per day C&amp;D waste. All three Delhi plants have together processed over 5 million tonnes C&amp;D waste. LUX DRR

Stubble burning, construction waste still major concerns: Survey

<ul><li>Nearly 674 million citizens in the country are likely to breathe air with high concentration of PM 2.5 in 2030. </li><li>Only half the estimated population in 2030 will be living in areas with clean air. </li><li>The current policies and regulation of the state government ignores emission sources outside their jurisdiction. </li></ul>While India is stepping up its efforts to curb the problem of increasing air pollution, it may be ignoring domestic sources of emissions — including solid fuel usage in households and waste management practices. Poor waste management, agricultural practices like stubble burning and use of fossil fuels for transportation, heating and electricity are bigger sources of air <keyword id="2659838" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Pollution-in-India">pollution in India</keyword>. These have contributed more to the worsening air quality than vehicular emissions, particularly along the gangetic plain in North India, according to a report by the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) in Austria and the Council on Energy, Environment, and Water (CEEW). Indoor pollution caused by cooking, heating or lighting with kerosene and solid fuels<a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/environment/pollution/air-pollution-claims-7-million-lives-each-year-un-expert/articleshow/68266636.cms"> is proven to be hazardous f</a>or women and children living in developing countries since they spend most of their time at home. Despite knowing the consequences, the Indian authorities<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/indian-govt-on-backfoot-as-stubble-burning-worsens-air-pollution-in-the-national-capital/articleshow/66235837.cms"> have had a hard time in dealing </a>with the practise of stubble burning. Studies have suggested that stubble burning — a practise to get rid of leftover crop before harvest — contributes to half the pollution and toxic air problem in India’s capital. This comes in the back of<a href="https://www.google.co.in/amp/s/www.businessinsider.in/gurgaon-is-the-most-polluted-city-in-the-world/amp_articleshow/68267574.cms"> a recent study </a>that said seven of the 10 most polluted cities in the world are from India, with Gurugram ranking as the worst in the world with the highest levels of pollutants. The biggest source of pollution in Gurugram is stubble burning, which invariably contaminates the air in neighbouring New Delhi every winter. Short sighted The study clearly suggests that the current policies and regulation of the state government ignores emission sources outside their jurisdiction. For instance, crop burning in Punjab is one of the primary sources of pollution in New Delhi and nearby regions. The study also found that, the population living in Indo-Gangetic plain has the highest exposure to PM 2.5 concentration mainly because the emission sources are dense in numbers and the Himalayas are acting as a barrier in ventilation process. 13 of the world’s 15 most polluted cities in terms of PM 2.5 <a href="https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/pollution-on-gangetic-plain-affects-600-mn-what-india-can-learn-from-china-119030900140_1.html">belong of Indo-Gangetic plain</a>. It is affecting over 600 million people with cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. Indians will continue to deal with the struggle of alarming increase in air pollution as 674 million citizens in the country are likely to breathe air with high concentration of PM 2.5 in 2030 even if all the existing government policies and regulations are followed, <a href="http://www.iiasa.ac.at/web/home/about/news/190329-poor-air-india.html">said the study</a>. Only half the estimated population in 2030 will be living in areas with clean air. Any inefficiency in the policy will lead to significant increase in the number. In 2015 alone more than half the then Indian population — approx 650 million people — were breathing air with high concentration of PM 2.5 that breached the standards provided by NAAQS. Moreover, only 1% had access to air quality approved by World Health Organisation.

India's plan for cleaner air ignores an important source of pollution

<ul><li>The <keyword id="146133" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="National-Green-Tribunal">National Green Tribunal</keyword> slapped a fine of ₹250 million on the state government of Delhi, which is run by the <keyword id="6354944" type="DEFINITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="aam-aadmi-party">Aam Aadmi Party</keyword>, citing its failure to curb pollution. </li><li>The bench deliberating on the issue said that the Delhi government would have to hand over the funds to the Central Pollution Control Board, an anti-pollution agency housed under the environment ministry. </li><li>The <keyword id="68804" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="CPCB">CPCB</keyword> will then use the funds to implement its own pollution control measures. The AAP will also have to furnish a performance guarantee for the fine in a month, which will be encashed if the amount isn’t submitted in three months. </li></ul> Delhi’s <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/pollution-in-indias-national-capital-is-so-bad-that-the-government-is-considering-banning-private-cars-altogether/articleshow/66443561.cms">air pollution crisis </a>has been well-documented. With the city’s level of air quality walking the tightrope between “poor” and “abysmal” and a government that seems incapable of implementing any effective measures to improve it, the National Green Tribunal (NGT), a special tribunal focusing on environmental issues, has finally decided to take some action. Yesterday, the NGT slapped a fine of ₹250 million on the state government of Delhi, which is run by the Aam Aadmi Party, citing its failure to curb pollution, according to the Press Trust of India. The move followed the submission of a compliance affidavit by the Delhi government which the tribunal deemed insufficient. In response, the Delhi government has reportedly said that its dealing with a problem that’s largely the result of activities that do not take place within its jurisdiction. While this is true of the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/indian-govt-on-back-foot-as-stubble-burning-worsens-air-pollution-in-the-national-capital/articleshow/66235837.cms">crop burning </a>in neighbouring states, the government has failed to take action against polluters within city lines. The case was triggered by the submission of a plea by residents of the city that related to the operation of illegal smelters and units burning plastic and leather on Delhi’s outskirts. The Delhi government was meant to take action against these units a while ago, and has hence, been instructed to submit an action plan to the NGT with the names of the officers and civic organisations responsible for carrying out anti-pollution work in the city and the reasons for their ineffectiveness. The bench deliberating on the issue, which was led by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel, said that the Delhi government would have to hand over ₹250 million to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), an anti-pollution agency housed under the environment ministry. It has suggested that the Delhi government, which is in the middle of a <a href="https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/kejriwal-vs-centre-over-mcd-mha-says-can-t-release-more-funds-delhi-has-rs-790-crore-1359339-2018-10-09">funding crunch</a>, pay for the fine by deducting the salaries of government officials tasked with implementing anti-pollution measures and by fining polluters. The CPCB will then use the funds to implement its own pollution control measures. The AAP will also have to furnish a performance guarantee for the fine in a month, which will be encashed if the amount isn’t submitted in three months. In its defence, the AAP has been trying to implement steps to improve the city’s air quality although it will likely be a while before any discernible improvement takes place. Earlier this week, it slapped <a href="https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/delhi-govt-imposes-fine-of-rs-50-000-each-on-contractors-for-dust-pollution-118120100639_1.html">fines on construction companies</a> for violation of <keyword id="55910" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Air-Pollution">air pollution</keyword> norms. It is also in the process of drafting a plan to make electric vehicles account for <a href="https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/delhi-air-pollution-delhi-electric-vehicle-policy-delhi-air-quality-25-delhi-government-kailash-gehlot-delhi-transport-minister-1397723-2018-11-28">a quarter of all the vehicles on Delhi’s roads</a> within the next five years. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india-accounts-for-25-of-all-air-pollution-deaths-in-the-world/articleshow/63815727.cms">India accounts for 25% of all air pollution deaths in the world</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/pollution-in-indias-national-capital-is-so-bad-that-the-government-is-considering-banning-private-cars-altogether/articleshow/66443561.cms">Pollution in India’s national capital is so bad that the government is considering banning private cars altogether</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/indian-govt-on-back-foot-as-stubble-burning-worsens-air-pollution-in-the-national-capital/articleshow/66235837.cms">Indian govt on back foot as stubble burning worsens air pollution in the national capital</a>

India’s top environmental tribunal has ordered the Delhi government to pay ₹250 million to the national pollution control agency so it can tackle the city’s air problem

<ul><li><keyword id="6964390" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="air-quality-levels-in-delhi">Air quality levels in Delhi</keyword>, the most polluted mega-city in the world, had already dropped to ‘poor’ on Monday and is expected to worsen.</li><li>Farmers continue to burn stubble with some in Punjab recently protesting against the lack of compensation for using alternatives to crop burning. </li><li>There seems to be a lack in coordinated action among governments.</li></ul>Despite ample warnings, it appears that Indian authorities have again been unable to wield enough pressure or incentivise farmers sufficiently in Northern India to halt the practice of burning stubble. <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/stubble-burning-doubles-delhi-pollution-harvard-study/articleshow/63593281.cms">Studies</a> have shown that this stubble burning contributes to at least half of the pollution and toxic haze problem in India’s capital region. The air quality in Delhi and surrounding cities reach toxic levels every year in October and November as the temperature drops and the pollutants stay suspended as the wind slows down. While the number of stubble burning sites seem lower than last year according to satellite data, that number might go up in the coming week. Air quality levels in Delhi had already dropped to ‘poor’ as of Monday, according to the Air Quality Index. A combination of stubble burning in the Northern states, vehicle exhaust and construction dust contribute to toxic levels of pollution in Delhi, which is the most <a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/delhi-world-s-most-polluted-city-mumbai-worse-than-beijing-who/story-m4JFTO63r7x4Ti8ZbHF7mM.html">polluted city</a> in the world, according to the World Health Organisation. Despite penalties and a ban in place by the National Green Tribunal on stubble burning, farmers in have continued to burn stubble. Some farmers in Punjab have also recently been protesting against the lack of compensation for using alternatives by<a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/defiant-farmers-burn-stubble-post-videos-online-5403716/"> posting videos </a>of stubble burning online. Insufficient compensation In recent years, India’s central and state governments have attempted to introduce financial incentives and subsidies on the farm equipment needed to help farmers switch to cleaner methods of getting rid of harvest stubble instead of burning crop residue to clear farmlands for the next sowing season. However, farmers contend that despite the subsidies these machines are still very expensive and the cost of these machines has shot up further ever since the government announced these subsidies. Instead, the farmers have demanded <a href="https://www.livemint.com/Politics/TnZW7bjXA3wHbeqqDYd3pM/Delhis-air-quality-set-to-worsen-as-stubble-burning-intensi.html">direct compensation</a> of ₹200 ($2.71) per quintal of paddy harvested. One farmer in Punjab <a href="https://www.livemint.com/Politics/TnZW7bjXA3wHbeqqDYd3pM/Delhis-air-quality-set-to-worsen-as-stubble-burning-intensi.html">told</a> the Mint - “The number of machines that have been purchased on subsidy will not even cover 10% of Punjab’s paddy area... besides it costs farmers over ₹5,000 per acre for straw management by rented machines.” Additionally, Punjab also imposes a fine of ₹2,500 per acre, which dwarfs in comparison to the cost of alternatives, farmers say. “I will set fire to my farm to clear it. If need be, I will pay the fine because there is no other option,” a farmer in Punjab <a href="https://www.news18.com/news/india/delhi-still-grasping-for-breath-as-stubble-burning-continues-in-punjab-haryana-1546059.html">told </a>News18. Removing crop residue is also seen as a labour-intensive process in both Punjab and Haryana, both states have shifted to high mechanisation in recent years. With farm labour being either unavailable or too expensive, burning the stubble is seen as a cheaper option. To be sure, efforts are also underway by various non-governmental and local organisations to create a market for the stubble for use in biofuels, for instance, but they will take time to catch on. The governments also appear to be lacking in coordinated action to address the problem. Delhi’s Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has reportedly said that his government took up the issue with the other state governments but no “concrete action” had been taken by them. Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has <a href="https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/sympathies-with-farmers-but-dont-burn-crop-residue-amarinder-singh-1932592">urged </a>the central government to grant ₹100 per quintal as compensation to Punjab farmers, failing which he said it would be tough for the state to control stubble burning. Delhi also plans to implement emergency measures in the coming weeks if the air quality worsens including a prohibition on burning of waste, curb on construction activity and the use of diesel generator sets in the city.

Indian govt on back foot as stubble burning worsens air pollution in the national capital

Mohali, Dec 6 () The Punjab Government here on Friday projected stubble management as a field with huge investment potential, urging companies to invest in the processing of paddy straw to make ethanol and biogas from it. 
 Punjab, which is facing criticism for stubble burning, produces 20 million tonne of paddy straw every year. 
 "Paddy stubble is one of the serious problems we have today. Almost 20 million tonne of stubble is being produced every year, of which only 5 million tonne is processed, leaving a surplus of 15 million tonne with farmers who have no option but to burn it," said Punjab Additional Chief Secretary (Development) Viswajeet Khanna during the Progressive Punjab Investors Summit here. 
 He said the stubble management had huge investment potential. 
 "It (stubble) can be used for burning in boilers. We hope to bring in investment to produce ethanol and biogas from it," said Khanna. 
 Two days ago, the Hinduja group had offered to help Punjab in addressing the problem by using straw in ethanol plants.
 The offer was made during a meeting between Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and Hinduja group Chairman Prakash Hinduja.
 Khanna said with the support of the Centre, over 50,000 machines were distributed among paddy growers for the management of crop residue in the past two years. 
 "Last year, we reduced the area under stubble burning by 10 per cent but this year, unfortunately for various factors, there were equal number of fire incidents as were last year. We could not reduce these this year, " Khanna said. CHS
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Punjab Govt urges industry to invest in stubble management

New Delhi, Nov 20 () The government should purchase crop residue as it procures wheat and paddy at minimum support price (MSP) to address the issue of stubble burning, one of the causes of air pollution, JD(U) MP Ram Nath Thakur suggested in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday. 
Raising the issue during the morning session, Thakur also expressed concern over the arrest of farmers in some states for stubble burning. 
The government should buy crop residue in the same way it purchases wheat and rice from farmers at MSP, he said, adding that this will not only help in reducing pollution, but also provide financial relief to farmers.
BJP member Vijay Pal Singh Tomar suggested that stubble can be used in manufacturing of ethanol. 
He also said efforts should be made to ensure 10 to 15 per cent blending of ethanol with petrol, which will help in environment protection and saving foreign exchange. 
The government has mandated mixing of 10 per cent ethanol in petrol, but only about six per cent is being mixed currently. 
Meanwhile, three Congress MPs demanded that the central government buy rice from Chhattisgarh. 
Chhaya Verma, Motilal Vohra and P L Punia mentioned in the House that rice from the state is not being purchased for the central pool as Chhattisgarh is buying at a higher MSP of Rs 2,500 per quintal against the MSP of Rs 1,815 per quintal announced by the Union government. 
The Centre should relax norms and buy the grains at the MSP announced by the state government as part of its goal to double farmers' income, they said. 
The Congress, which is in power in Chhattisgarh, had promised the higher MSP to boost farmers' income, according to them. 
BJP's Shwait Malik said people living within the 5-km area from the India-Pakistan border in Punjab are facing problems in getting employment and education. 
He demanded a special fund to provide infrastructure, education and job opportunities to them. 
In his Zero Hour mention, A K Selvaraj of the AIADMK raised the issue of adulteration and contamination of food products. 
Two TMC members Md Nadimul Haque and Manas Ranjan Bhunia highlighted the plight of people affected by Cyclone Bulbul and demanded that the central government extend help in providing relief to those affected. 
DMK leader Tiruchi Siva suggested that Tamil should be made the official language of the Madras High Court. 
Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu agreed with the suggestion, saying the language in high courts should be that of the state. 
Another Congress member Mohd Ali Khan asked the central government to intervene so that the ongoing strike by employees of the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) can be ended. In his mention in the House, Prasanna Acharya of the BJP expressed concern on incidents of acid attack on women. He termed such incidents as the most "heinous gender violence". MJH NKD NKD MJH ANB
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‘Farmers cannot kill others for their own livelihood’ — Supreme Court issues blanket ban on stubble burning in 3 states

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Stubble burning, construction waste still major concerns: Survey

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India's plan for cleaner air ignores an important source of pollution

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India’s top environmental tribunal has ordered the Delhi government to pay ₹250 million to the national pollution control agency so it can tackle the city’s air problem

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Indian govt on back foot as stubble burning worsens air pollution in the national capital

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Punjab Govt urges industry to invest in stubble management

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Govt should buy crop residue like it purchases wheat, paddy: JD(U) MP

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