Centre doubles fine for burning farm stubble

The Union government has doubled the fines issued against farmers for burning stubble up to ₹30,000, depending on the size of their plots, in a last-minute bid to stop the annual scourge that drives up Delhi's winter pollution into hazardous levels, even as the city's air quality index (AQI) spiralled to the upper reaches of the "very poor" zone on Thursday.

- Jasjeev Gandhiok and Jayashree Nandi

The Commission for Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas (Imposition, Collection, and Utilization of Environmental Compensation for Stubble Burning) Amendment Rules, 2024, were notified on Wednesday, and were made public on Thursday.

On the same day, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) also issued an order, asking for states to implement the directions and revised environmental compensation needs to be imposed with immediate effect.

"The Commission through its order dated November 7 has authorized all nodal/supervisory officers appointed by the respective governments in the National Capital Territory of Delhi, state of Punjab, state of Haryana and the NCR areas of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh to impose and collect Environmental Compensation (EC) from farmers causing air pollution by stubble burning, as per the revised rates. This order is required to be implemented by the respective state governments with immediate effect," the statement said.

According to these rules, farmers with plots smaller than two acres will be fined ₹5,000 for each incidence of stubble burning incidence, up from ₹2,500.

Those with plots larger than two acres but smaller than five will be fined 10,000 and cultivators with over five acres of land will have to pay ₹30,000 per incidence.

The rules were first notified in 2023.