Order of the National Green Tribunal in the matter of Ganga Lalwani Vs Union of India & Others dated 15/10/2019 regarding remedial action to prevent burning of crop residue resulting in air pollution particularly in the NCR Region. The hearings are in continuation of the hearings taking place in the matter since December 2015.

Summary of the Case: 

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on October 15, 2019 directed the Central Government and the States of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab to place on their respective websites the data of crop fire incidents, listing of responsible officers for the subject and action taken on a daily basis.

The hearings in the case were in continuation of the hearings taking place in the matter since December 2015. "Even in five years if the State machinery is not able to communicate to the concerned farmers the techniques of sowing crops without burning of the crop residue of the paddy, it is an unhappy situation which needs to be remedied. If an incentive is to be given, it is for the State to decide and provide for the same. Even central funds or schemes are not fully utilized," the order said.

The Tribunal also passed directions for the action plans and enforcement strategies to be reviewed and asked the states to allocate necessary funds to prevent burning of crop residue resulting in air pollution particularly in the NCR Region.

The Tribunal took note of the report submitted by the Ministry of Agriculture in June 21, 2019 which stated that Jobner Agriculture University, Jaipur had mooted a suggestion for the use of crop residue as organic manure. The report also called for setting up decentralized composting units either in the concerned fields or common composting units at community level in a village or in a cluster of villages. And that at least one such pilot project needs to be considered in each State. Progress of distribution of machinery (happy seeder) to farmers in the states of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to manage crop residue was also mentioned in the report.