Centre Doubles Stubble Burning Penalty Post Supreme Court Directive

In response to the Supreme Court’s criticism of the “toothless” penalties under the Environment Protection Act (EPA) of 1986, the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change has doubled the fines on stubble burning. This move aims to curb stubble burning and address the worsening air quality in Delhi and nearby regions.

Key Updates and Penalties for Stubble Burning

Revised Penalties

• Farmers with Less Than Two Acres: ₹5,000 fine
• Farmers with 2-5 Acres: ₹10,000 fine
• Farmers with Over 5 Acres: ₹30,000 fine

Implementation

• Penalties enforced through the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) Act of 2021.
• Rules apply to Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, and NCR areas in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.

Collection and Enforcement of Penalties

Environmental Compensation

• Collected via challan, which must be paid within 30 days.
• If unpaid, an authorized officer will recover the amount as an arrear of land revenue.
• Records will show a “red entry” for offenders, marking the land of farmers engaging in stubble burning.

Funds Allocation

• Collected fines deposited into accounts of respective State Pollution Control Boards or Committees.

Objective and Rationale

• Aim: To curb stubble burning and reduce air pollution levels.
• Supreme Court’s Concern: Directed stricter actions and timely penalties to address unchecked environmental violations.
• Environmental Impact: Despite fewer stubble burning cases, air quality worsened, showing a rise in “poor” to “severe” air quality days from 87 to 110 in Delhi.

Statistical Insight into Stubble Burning and Air Quality

Decrease in Stubble Burning Incidents

• Reduced from 71,829 in 2020 to 12,514 between September 16 and November 6, as per the Indian Agricultural Research Institute.

Air Quality Data

• CPCB reported Delhi’s AQI at an average of 367, approaching “severe” levels.
• Neighboring regions like Faridabad, Gurugram, Ghaziabad, and Noida recorded AQIs between 252-313, falling into the “very poor” category.

Sources of Delhi’s Air Pollution

Breakdown of Pollutants (Data from Centre for Science and Environment)

• Local Sources (Delhi): 30.34% of pollution (transportation accounts for 50.1% of this).
• Neighboring NCR Areas: 34.97%.
• Other Areas: 27.94%.
• Stubble Burning Contribution: Only 8.19% to Delhi’s pollution levels.

EPA Penalty Rules, 2024

• MoEFCC introduced new Environment Protection (Manner of Holding Inquiry and Imposition of Penalty) Rules, 2024.
• Guidelines outline factors for penalty assessment based on project type, industry size, and violation nature.

Impact on Delhi and Surrounding NCR Air Quality

AQI Levels on 7th November

• CPCB recorded an average AQI of 367 in Delhi, indicating deteriorating air quality.
• Several Delhi areas exceeded AQI of 400, entering the “severe” category.