Stubble Burning and Air Pollution: A Policy Debate Between Persuasion and Prosecution
UPSC Relevance
Prelims: Environment & Ecology (Air Pollution, Stubble Burning, Commission for Air Quality Management - CAQM); Indian Polity and Governance (Judiciary, Writs - Mandamus, Separation of Powers).
Mains:
General Studies Paper 2 (Polity & Governance): Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors; Separation of powers between various organs; Role of Judiciary.
General Studies Paper 3 (Environment & Economy): Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation; Major crops cropping patterns; Issues related to farm subsidies and minimum support prices.
Key Highlights from the News
Supreme Court and the Central Government are at loggerheads over preventing air pollution caused by stubble burning in fields after harvest.
Chief Justice B.R. Gavai suggested reinstating criminal prosecution against farmers who burn stubble.
However, the Centre argued that its policy is to solve the problem through awareness and by working with farmers (take farmers along), instead of jailing them.
The government clarified that farmers are exempted from prosecution under the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) Act.
The court asked the government to adopt a "carrot and stick" approach: first offer incentives (carrot), and then penalize if not complied with (stick).
The court warned that a uniform policy must be formulated nationwide on this issue, otherwise, a mandamus writ would be issued instructing the government to take action.
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