Centre doubles fines for stubble burning as Delhi, other areas battle pollution

Under the new rules, which take effect immediately, farmers with less than two acres of land will face a fine of Rs 5,000. Those with between two and five acres will be fined Rs 10,000.

In Short

• Fines vary by farm size, starting at Rs 5,000
• Supreme Court had called previous fines "toothless"
• Delhi's air quality continues to deteriorate post Diwali

The Centre has increased penalties for farmers involved in burning crop stubble, with fines now set to rise as high as Rs 30,000, as part of efforts to tackle worsening air quality in Delhi and neighbouring regions.

Under the new rules, which take effect immediately, farmers with less than two acres of land will face a fine of Rs 5,000. Those with between two and five acres will be fined Rs 10,000, while farmers with more than five acres of land will be penalised Rs 30,000 for engaging in stubble burning.

The amendment is part of the government’s push to reduce air pollution under the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) Act of 2021.

The new rules may be called the Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas (Imposition, Collection, and Utilisation of Environmental Compensation for Stubble Burning) Amendment Rules, 2024, an official notice stated.

As part of the new measures, complaints related to pollution will be handled by the pollution control boards and the CAQM, with clear guidelines for conducting enquiries and addressing grievances.

The increase in fines follows sharp criticism from the Supreme Court, which had previously described earlier penalties as ineffective in curbing the practice.

The court noted that previous fines were "toothless" largely due to delays in appointing adjudicating officers and setting up a proper regulatory framework for enforcement.

The top court had also recently criticised the Delhi government over the blanket ban on firecrackers. The court observed that the ban was "hardly implemented" and directed the Delhi top cop to file an affidavit stating the measures that were taken to enforce the ban in the national capital.

The government’s move is aimed at addressing the severe air pollution that annually plagues Delhi and its surrounding areas. On Thursday, the air quality was recorded in the 'severe' category in many areas. Anand Vihar, Bawana, Mundka and Wazirpur recorded air quality in the 'severe' category, while other areas were in the 'very poor' category.

This has contributed to hazardous air conditions across the city, with a thick blanket of smog covering the capital.