Air pollution: NGT slaps Rs 2 lakhs costs on Delhi government

New Delhi: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has slapped Rs 2 lakh as costs on the Delhi government for not filing an action plan for providing perks and infrastructural assistance to farmers to stop them from burning crop residue to prevent air pollution.

A bench, headed by acting NGT chairperson justice Jawad Rahim, took exception over the report filed by the AAP government, which was signed by the joint director, agriculture and refused to accept it. 

The bench said: “As far as the NCT of Delhi is concerned, neither the action plan nor the affidavit is filed. Mr Khehar (lawyer for Delhi govt) submits that he has got the report under the signature of joint director, agriculture and it should be accepted. We decline… Our order expressly directed chief secretary must file an affidavit and produce the action plan.” 

“There can be no exception to the NCT Delhi and hence for non-compliance of this direction dated February 20, 2018, the NCT of Delhi is imposed with costs of Rs 2 lakh.”

The green panel directed 25 per cent of the costs imposed would be deposited with the Central Pollution Control Board, 25 per cent with the Delhi Pollution Control Committee and the remaining with the Legal Aid Committee of the NGT. 

The NGT granted a week to the Rajasthan government for filing the action plan and posted the issue for hearing on April 20.

Punjab had faced the wrath of the NGT for not taking measures  to provide financial aid to the farmers to promote them not to burn agricultural residue in their fields. 

It had said two years had elapsed since its verdict in the Vikrant Tongad case, in which it had passed many directions to stop crop burning, but the government had shown a lethargic approach.