Stubble burning: Officials found lax to face strict action, cases
In order to rein in offenders involved in stubble burning, thereby leading to a drop in the air quality index and massive pollution in the Delhi-NCR region, the district administration today said that stern action would be taken against those officials found lax in ensuring that no farmer indulged in stubble burning.
Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sawhney said that from now on the cases against erring and negligent officials, including nodal officers, supervisory officers, station house officers (SHOs) or beat officers would be filed in the court of judicial magistrate as per the latest guidelines of the Air Quality Management Commission (AQMC).
She said that the commission in its order on October 10 had authorised deputy commissioners, district collectors and district magistrates in Punjab, Haryana, NCR, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi to file complaints and cases against the officials responsible for ensuring implementations of orders against stubble burning if they were found negligent in their work.
“All stakeholders, including officials concerned, would be answerable in case of violation of guidelines of Supreme Court, National Green Tribunal and Air Quality Management Commission regarding instances of crop residue burning in their jurisdictions,” she pointed out. “When the requisite machinery is available with the government regarding crop residue management, the increase in stubble burning cases is unacceptable,” she said, while adding that all would have to be vigilant against such instances.
Meanwhile, Additional Deputy Commissioner Jyoti Bala and XEN, Punjab Pollution Control Board, today got fire doused in some fields in Tarsikka area. She recommended action against those who set the stubble on fire.
In a bid to tighten the noose around the famers involved in setting up stubble on fire in the fields to get rid of crop residue quickly, the district administration has asked the police authorities to register FIRs against such offenders.
In the past two days, four farmers among eight persons have been booked by the police for violating the district magistrate’s orders against stubble burning. Besides, 16 FIRs have been registered in the past four days.
On Monday, the police booked Gagandeep Singh of Saidpur village falling under Rajasansi police station here and Karnail Singh of Muchhal village in Tarsikka for stubble burning. Similarly, Sukhwinder Singh of Bhangwa village in Jandiala and Manjit Singh of Dalam village in Rajasansi have been booked. The police also booked six unknown persons in this connection.
