SC Lambasts States Over Stubble Burning, Orders Incentives For Farmers

Addressing the Delhi-NCR air pollution issue, the Supreme Court on Wednesday summoned the chief secretaries of key states Punjab, UP and Haryana, to explain why stubble burning is still taking place and what steps are being taken by the state governments to curb it.

Following which the SC passed a slew of orders:

• The SC ordered an incentive of Rs 100 per quintal for small & marginal farmers to handle residue of non-Basmati rice crops in states of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. 
• Punishing farmer is not the ultimate solution, providing them the basic facilities and resources is important
• State governments have also been ordered to provide machines on a hiring basis and also operational expenses for hiring these machines to small and marginal farmers. This will help them deal with crop stubble (parali).
• Agriculture is the backbone of the country and interest of small and marginal farmers must be protected. Plea of lack of funds cannot be ground for the govt to neglect them

Watch the full report here: 

Despite the Supreme Court's crackdown & state governments' tough stance against the farmers, #stubbleburning continues in several parts of #Punjab, #Haryana & #UttarPradesh. @RumanaAlvi4 reports

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