Stubble Burning: NHRC Urges States to Provide Free Machines to Farmers to Prevent Farm Fires

Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh were asked to provide a thorough report on how to reduce air pollution in the capital and neighboring region. Under the direction of NHRC Chairman, Justice Arun Kumar Mishra, a meeting was held via video conference with the chief secretaries of four states regarding air pollution as the national capital and the NCR region continue to be engulfed in a thick layer of smog.

While sharing the report at the meeting yesterday, the state secretaries gave detailed information on the issue. 

The Commission discussed it is important to give free equipment to underprivileged farmers at the panchayat and body levels so they can correctly and promptly harvest their paddy. It said that in this way farmers will not be compelled to burn stubble.

The date of the upcoming hearing is now November 25.

NHRC Spokesperson told the media that farmers who can afford to buy such equipment should be provided some concession.

He also told media that besides this, the Commission requested the state governments to provide sanitation workers with the appropriate tools. It should be controlled whether it's the hospital waste or the dust on the roadways that cause air pollution to rise, the commission added.

It also demanded information on how many mechanical devices are now in operation to address the pollution brought on by stubble burning, as well as their order volume. Various issues, such as pollution brought on by stubble burning and the deaths of sanitation workers, were discussed with the chief secretaries of the states in numerous states across the nation, and directives were also provided to avoid and minimize pollution, the NHRC spokesperson added.

After hearing the Chief Secretaries of the individual states' versions, the Commission admonished the governments of Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh, holding them accountable for poor management of "stubble burning."