New Delhi: After the strictness of the Supreme Court, the central government has doubled the fine on farmers burning stubble. The Ministry of Environment issued a notification on Thursday and informed about this.
Now a fine of Rs 5000 will be imposed on farmers having land less than 2 acres of land. A fine of Rs 10,000 will be imposed on farmers having two to five acres of land and Rs 30,000 will be imposed on those having more than five acres of land. The governments of Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Delhi will be bound to implement these rules.
In fact, on November 4, during the hearing, the Supreme Court had asked Punjab-Haryana to file their reply on stubble by November 14. Earlier on October 23, the Supreme Court had given two weeks to the central government to make rules under the Environmental Protection Act (EPA) regarding air pollution and appoint responsible officers.
In the hearing on October 23, the Supreme Court did not seem satisfied with the action of the Haryana government. The court strictly said that they should not be forced to give strict orders. A bench of Justice Abhay S Oka, Justice A Amanullah, and Justice AG Masih termed the efforts of the Punjab and Haryana governments to stop the burning of stubble in the fields as mere pretense.
The court said that if these governments are interested in implementing the law, then at least a case should be filed. The Supreme Court even said that now the time has come to remind the Central, Punjab and Haryana governments that living in a pollution-free environment is a fundamental right of citizens. Living in pollution is a gross violation of fundamental rights under Article 21.