Bhartiya Kisan Sangh Welcomes Supreme Court's Remarks on Stubble Burning, Seeks Withdrawal of Fines and FIRs Against Farmers

The Bhartiya Kisan Sangh (BKS) has welcomed the Supreme Court's observations and suggestions on stubble burning and air pollution in Delhi-NCR, demanding the immediate withdrawal of fines and FIRs registered against farmers over crop residue burning.

The farmers' organisation has also called for a government procurement mechanism or Minimum Support Price (MSP) for stubble, arguing that crop residue should be treated as an economic resource rather than a source of pollution.

Reacting to the Supreme Court hearing, Mohini Mohan Mishra, All India General Secretary of the Bhartiya Kisan Sangh, said the observations of the apex court made it clear that farmers should not be singled out as the primary cause of air pollution.

He urged state governments and administrative authorities to move beyond paperwork, identify the actual sources of pollution on the ground and take effective measures to address them instead of repeatedly blaming farmers.

Referring to the Supreme Court's observations, Mishra said the court had cited the COVID-19 lockdown as an example, pointing out that stubble burning continued during that period, yet Delhi's skies remained clear. This, he said, demonstrated that several other factors also contribute significantly to air pollution.

BKS Calls for MSP-Based Procurement of Stubble

Welcoming the Supreme Court's suggestion on developing a procurement mechanism for agricultural residue, Mishra said the government should establish a system for purchasing stubble, similar to the procurement arrangements for agricultural produce.

"We support the Supreme Court's suggestion that, just as the government procures crops, a system of government procurement or Minimum Support Price (MSP) should also be established for stubble. This would provide farmers with an additional source of income and encourage them to sell crop residue instead of burning it," he said.

The organisation believes that providing an economic incentive for crop residue can help address the problem of stubble burning while creating opportunities for its productive utilisation.

Vehicles and Industries Also Contribute to Air Pollution

The Bhartiya Kisan Sangh reiterated that industrial emissions and vehicular pollution are major sources of air pollution and should receive equal attention from policymakers and enforcement agencies.

Mishra said it was unfair to target farmers while overlooking other significant sources of pollution. He urged state governments and administrative authorities to act on the Supreme Court's suggestions and take concrete steps to control industrial emissions and vehicular exhaust.

Government Must Bear the Cost of Stubble Management

The farmers' organisation has demanded that all fines imposed and FIRs registered against farmers in connection with stubble burning be withdrawn immediately.

It has also called on governments to either bear the entire cost of crop residue management or directly provide farmers with the necessary machinery, equipment and other resources.

According to the organisation, farmers should not be expected to bear the additional financial burden of managing crop residue without adequate government support.

The BKS maintained that a sustainable solution to stubble burning requires a combination of economic incentives, government procurement, affordable residue management facilities and effective action against pollution from all major sources.