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As crop residue burning has gained momentum, the Centre's air quality panel has authorised district authorities in states surrounding Delhi to prosecute officials for inaction on Stubble Burning Enforcement.
A total of 267 and 187 paddy residue burning events were reported during the period from 15th September - 9th October 2024, from the states of Punjab and Haryana respectively, as per Ministry of Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in NCR and adjoining Areas has deputed 26 Central teams to the hotspot districts in Punjab and Haryana to maintain close liaison with the district-level authorities. A dedicated cell has been set up in Chandigarh for continuous monitoring and coordinated efforts. District administrations and state governments have been directed to maintain constant vigilance to control stubble burning during the harvesting season CAQM is the pollution watchdog for Delhi and adjoining areas. Stubble burning has become a pressing concern in Delhi as the onset of winter traps pollutants, leading to hazardous air quality and thick smog. The burning of crop residue in neighbouring states significantly worsens pollution, posing severe health risks to residents. "Taking into account the current situation and to ensure effective implementation of the action plans at the field level, the CAQM in the exercise of the powers vested upon it under section 14 of the CAQM Act 2021 has authorized the Deputy Commissioners/ District Collectors/ District Magistrates in the States of Punjab, Haryana, NCR areas of Rajasthan and U.P. and in the NCT of Delhi to file a complaint/ prosecution before a 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," the ministry said in a recent statement. The CAQM has also directed the respective District administrations and the State Governments to shoulder higher responsibility and maintain constant and strict vigil to control any further paddy stubble burning in the harvesting season. "Further, the CAQM 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 optimize the utilization of all available resources/ means for various in situ/ex-situ management applications, besides setting up a "Paddy Stubble Management Cell" at Chandigarh, for coordinated and continuous monitoring of the field level actions," the ministry said. Last month, the Supreme Court rapped the CAQM for not taking concrete steps to curb air pollution in the national capital region (NCR) and acting only as a "silent spectator". (ANI)
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