Govt Amends Rules on Environmental Compensation for Stubble Burning

New Delhi, November 7, 2024: In response to the severe air pollution in Delhi and surrounding regions, the central government announced amendments on Thursday to the Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Rules of 2023. The revised rules introduce an updated penalty structure for stubble burning to address air quality issues effectively.

According to a notification from the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, the amendments aim to streamline the imposition, collection, and utilization of environmental compensation for farmers engaged in stubble burning. Under the new rules, farmers with smaller land holdings are subject to lower penalties:

• Less than 2 acres: ₹5,000 environmental compensation
• 2 to less than 5 acres: ₹10,000 environmental compensation
• More than 5 acres: ₹30,000 environmental compensation

The updated penalty structure is intended to reflect fairness by considering farm sizes, thereby alleviating the burden on smaller-scale farmers.

The amendment comes as Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) crosses the 400 mark, signaling “severe” levels of pollution, as reported by SAFAR India. Authorities hope that the revised rules will curb stubble burning, a major contributor to seasonal air pollution in the region.

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini echoed these concerns on Wednesday, urging farmers to adopt eco-friendly alternatives. “We appeal to farmers not to burn stubble, as it harms both the environment and public health,” he said. The government, he noted, has made stubble management machines available at subsidized rates and encouraged farmers to sell stubble as an alternative revenue source.

With the AQI levels continuing to rise, the government is taking decisive action to mitigate the pollution crisis and to promote sustainable farming practices in Delhi NCR and surrounding states.