Amid concerns over rapidly deteriorating air quality in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR), the Bharatiya Janata Party-led central government on Thursday doubled penalties imposed on farmers for stubble burning, the practice of intentionally setting fire to remaining straw. after harvesting cereals such as rice and wheat.

The government announced that the Commission for Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region and Adjacent Areas (Imposition, Collection and Utilization of Environmental Compensation for Stubble Burning) Amendment Rules 2024 will come into force from on Thursday.

Under the new rules, a farmer with less than two acres will have to pay environmental compensation of Rs 5,000 if found guilty of farm fire incidents. Earlier, the fine amount was Rs 2,500.

Commission for Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region and Adjacent Areas (Imposition, Collection and Utilization of Environmental Compensation for Stubble Burning) Amendment Rules, 2024 to come into force.

A farmer who has an area of ​​land less than two acres must… pic.twitter.com/OBDD3pEQH2

— AIN (@ANI) November 7, 2024

Additionally, a farmer who has a land area of ​​two acres or more but less than five acres will have to pay environmental compensation of Rs 10,000, while those who have a land area of ​​more than five acres will have to pay environmental compensation. of 30,000 rupees.

Delhiites woke up to toxic air on Thursday morning as the air quality remained in the ‘very poor’ category. While the Air quality index At 9 am there were 367 stations, nine stations (Anand Vihar, Ashok Vihar, Bawana, Jahangirpuri, Mundka, Rohini, Sonia Vihar, Vivek Vihar, Wazirpur) reported air quality in the severe category, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

According ICA According to the ratings, a range of 0 to 50 is considered good, 51 to 100 satisfactory, 101 to 200 moderate, 201 to 300 poor, 301 to 400 very poor, and 401 to 500 severe.

Severe pollution levels are a recurring problem in the Delhi-NCR region during the winter months. It is driven by a combination of factors, such as low wind speed, falling temperatures, high levels of humidity and the presence of polluting particles that act as condensation surfaces.