Retd judge to monitor farm fire curbs

The Supreme Court appointed Justice Madan B Lokur (retd) as a one-man committee to monitor the measures taken by the states of Punjab, Haryana, UP and Delhi to prevent farmers from resorting to stubble burning that turns the entire NCR into a virtual gas chamber during October-November.
It directed chief secretaries of Punjab, Haryana, UP and Delhi and the Environment Pollution (Prevention & Control) Authority (EPCA) to assist the committee in physical surveillance of fields where stubble was likely to be burnt and to devise additional methods for preventing it.

Committee will visit affected states and submit fortnightly reports to the SC
Chief secys and Environment Pollution Prevention & Control Authority will assist in physical surveillance of fields

Residue in 2019

20 mn tonne paddy residue in Punjab
9.8 mn tonne burnt by farmers
7 mn tonne paddy residue in haryana
1.23 mn tonne burnt by farmers