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‘Wean farmers off stubble burning’
Why in news?
- The Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered the Centre to prepare a comprehensive national scheme, in consultation with States, within three months to wean small and marginal farmers away from stubble burning, which has been identified as a major source of air pollution choking the national capital.
More in news
- Orders to the States
(1) Punishing poor farmers: not a solution
(2) Distribute crop residue management tools and machines: to small and marginal farmers free of cost.
(3) States need to use their own funds: to finance the scheme.
(4) Sharing of financial liability between the Centre and the States: court would take the decision on a later date.
(5) Incentive of ₹100 per quintal : for small & marginal farmers who engage in the management of residue of their non-Basmati variety rice crop in Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.
- Orders to Delhi Govt:
(1) Submit an action plan: to deal with issues of garbage dumping and burning, pockmarked roads and the state of traffic congestion in the capital city.
(2) Three weeks to repair the potholes.
- Chief Secretaries hauled:
(1) It hauled up the Chief Secretaries of Punjab, Haryana and U.P. for doing almost nothing to prevent farmers from burning their crop residue.
(2) A democratically elected government cannot afford to not do anything and fail people. The elected government and administrative machinery cannot sit aloof in their ivory towers.
(3) Court initially gave a seven day deadline for the three States to collect stubble before the farmers burn them.
Sources
The Hindu