The National Green Tribunal on Tuesday fined the Delhi government Rs 2 lakh for not submitting an action plan on reducing pollution caused by crop burning in the National Capital Region, The Times of India reported.
The bench headed by Justice Jawad Rahim asked the government’s counsel why the affidavit did not have signature of the chief secretary despite previous orders. The joint director of the agriculture department had signed the document. “If we have issued a direction, please comply with it,” the bench said. “Who has filed the affidavit? Is he higher in rank than the chief secretary?”
The tribunal instructed the Aam Aadmi Party-led government to deposit 25% of the penalty amount with the Central Pollution Control Board and another quarter with the Delhi Pollution Control Committee. The green court will keep the remaining amount, reported The Hindu.
The court also came down heavily on the Rajasthan government for not complying with its orders. In February, the tribunal had instructed Delhi and five other northern states to formulate a comprehensive policy to incentivise farmers to stop burning crop stubble.
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