As Delhi and other regions struggle with pollution, the center raises penalty for stubble burning

In an attempt to address the deteriorating air quality in Delhi and the surrounding areas, the Center has raised the penalty for farmers who burn crop stubble, with fines now expected to reach Rs 30,000.

Farmers who own less than two acres of land will be subject to a Rs 5,000 punishment under the new regulations, which go into force right now. For stubble burning, farmers with two to five acres of land would be fined Rs 10,000, while those with more than five acres will be penalized Rs 30,000.

Under the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) Act of 2021, the modification is a component of the government’s effort to lower air pollution.According to an official announcement, the new regulations may be known as the Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas (Imposition, Collection, and Utilization of Environmental Compensation for Stubble Burning) Amendment Rules, 2024.

The CAQM and the pollution control boards will manage pollution-related complaints as part of the new measures, with explicit criteria for investigating and resolving concerns.

The Supreme Court, which had previously characterized earlier punishments as inadequate in preventing the practice, sharply criticized the rise in penalty. Previous fines were deemed “toothless” by the court, primarily because of the delays in designating adjudicating officials and establishing an appropriate regulatory framework for enforcement.

The Delhi government’s complete ban on firecrackers was recently criticized by the top court as well. The top police officer in Delhi was ordered to submit an affidavit detailing the steps taken to enforce the ban in the nation’s capital after the court noted that it was “hardly implemented.” The action taken by the government is meant to alleviate the extreme air pollution that Delhi and the neighboring areas experience every year.

In many places, the air quality on Thursday was classified as “severe.” The air quality of Anand Vihar, Bawana, Mundka, and Wazirpur was classified as “severe,” whereas other places fell into the “very poor” category.This has resulted in dangerous air conditions around the city, with the capital shrouded in a dense layer of haze.