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Delhi-NCR Pollution: Farmers Cannot Be Blamed, Says National Human Rights Commission

Air pollution: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) said farmers cannot be blamed for the situation as they are forced to burn stubble due to the “failure” of the four state governments

Delhi-NCR Pollution: Farmers Cannot Be Blamed, Says National Human Rights Commission
Farmers are burning stubble under compulsion, said the National Human Rights Commission

New Delhi: After hearing the response of chief secretaries of Delhi and three neighbouring states on the pollution issue, the NHRC on Saturday (November 12) said farmers cannot be blamed for the situation as they are forced to burn stubble due to the “failure” of the four state governments. Alarmed over the rise in pollution in Delhi-NCR, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) had recently asked the chief secretaries of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi to appear before it on November 10 to discuss the matter.

The Commission has now raised several queries to the governments, while asking the chief secretaries concerned to submit their response or affidavits “within four days positively” and to remain present again either in person or hybrid mode on November 18 for the next hearing on the matter.

Also Read: “Doctors Can Treat, Policy Makers Need To Tackle Air Pollution”: Dr. Rachna Kucheria

The Commission after considering the responses of the states concerned and the government of Delhi, and the deliberations thereon, is of the opinion that the “farmers are burning stubble under compulsion,” the NHRC said in a statement on Saturday.

“The state governments have to provide harvest machines to get rid of the stubble but they have failed to provide an adequate number of requisite machines and other measures; as a result, farmers are forced to burn the stubble, causing pollution.

“Therefore, none of the states can blame the farmers for stubble burning; instead, it is due to the failure of all four state Governments that the stubble burning is happening in the states of Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, and UP, causing enormous pollutants in the air,” it said.

Delhi’s air quality on Saturday remained in the ‘very poor’ category with the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 311 at 9 am, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data showed.

The rights panel has asked the Delhi government to furnish details on several matters, including steps taken to control open burning, mechanical road sweeper machines, and mobile and static anti-smog guns deployed on various roads, with the date and places, and placed on high-rise buildings.

Also Read: What Are The Health Effects Of Delhi’s Toxic Air? Dr. Satyanarayana Mysore, A Pulmonologist Speaks

The NHRC said in the statement,

Out of 5,000 acres of farmland in Delhi, bio-decomposer was sprinkled free of cost by the Delhi government in 2368.5 acres of paddy only till 07.11.2022. Reasons for not sprinkling in the remaining area and within what time, the same will be achieved and the result of such sprinkling be also furnished.

Details on the 13 identified hotspots in Delhi and measures taken to keep the AQI (air quality index) within reasonable limits, as well as the emergency plan to tackle it; area-wise details of surviving trees which were planted, number of illegal industries running and closed, have also been sought from it.

Information on medical waste collection and details of action taken against hospitals that are dumping medical waste in any open area and a report on ‘Green Delhi Application’ and ‘Green War Room’ for public grievance redressal has been sought regarding how many grievances have been uploaded on ‘Green Delhi App’ and how many have been attended, the statement said.

From the government of Haryana, details sought by the NHRC include, among other issues, how many hotspots have been identified in villages and what steps have been taken to remove them.

It also asked about the outcome of Haryana State Pollution Control Board’s control room, at Ballabhgarh, the set up for redressal of air pollution-related complaints; steps taken for stoppage of construction activities and details of challan, if any; and how many inspections are being carried out to check emission norms compliance by the industries and action taken against violators, it added.

Also Read: Stubble Burning Incidents In Punjab Cross 30,000 Mark In November

From the Punjab government, the details sought include reasons for the “shortfall in the purchase of the remaining CRM machines against the sanctioned machines”, details of bio-decomposer used, with the district, panchayat and area-wise details, dates and its impact be furnished; and date-wise fire incident from last year to as on date be furnished, the NHRC statement said.

From Uttar Pradesh, the rights panel has sought details including on time frame fixed for “setting up of 21 more Bio CNG/Bio Coal/Bio Briquettees/CBG/ 2G ethanol plants” and the outcome of directions for transportation of construction materials in covered vehicles, and “details, incidents of violation, supervision be furnished”, it said.

Date-wise details of streets where cleaning by mechanical method and spraying of water to suppress dust is done; as also how many unpaved roads exist, and potholes that have not been repaired and time frame to do needful.

It also sought details of how medical waste is being managed and action, if any, taken against the hospitals, dumping medical waste in open, and details of various steps being taken for the cleaning of river Ganga in the state, the statement said.

Also Read: Delhi: Sprinkling Of Water Done On Roads, To Check Rise In Air Quality Index

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

NDTV – Dettol have been working towards a clean and healthy India since 2014 via the Banega Swachh India initiative, which is helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. The campaign aims to highlight the inter-dependency of humans and the environment, and of humans on one another with the focus on One Health, One Planet, One Future – Leaving No One Behind. It stresses on the need to take care of, and consider, everyone’s health in India – especially vulnerable communities – the LGBTQ population, indigenous people, India’s different tribes, ethnic and linguistic minorities, people with disabilities, migrants, geographically remote populations, gender and sexual minorities. In wake of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign will continue to raise awareness on the same along with focussing on the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children, fight malnutrition, mental wellbeing, self care, science and health, adolescent health & gender awareness. Along with the health of people, the campaign has realised the need to also take care of the health of the eco-system. Our environment is fragile due to human activity, which is not only over-exploiting available resources, but also generating immense pollution as a result of using and extracting those resources. The imbalance has also led to immense biodiversity loss that has caused one of the biggest threats to human survival – climate change. It has now been described as a “code red for humanity.” The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene. Banega Swasth India will also be taking forward the dream of Swasth Bharat, the campaign feels that only a Swachh or clean India where toilets are used and open defecation free (ODF) status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and the country can become a Swasth or healthy India.

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