Coercive order if no improvement in environment: NGT to MoEF

The National Green Tribunal today warned the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) of "coercive" order if its national policy for preventing pollution from burning of agricultural waste in open fields does not reflect improvement on ground level.
A bench headed by Justice Swatanter Kumar also directed states concerned to fully cooperate with the Union Ministries for implementation of the guidelines.
The Tribunal has listed the matter for hearing on February 19 next year.
"We direct Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan to fully cooperate with the concerned Union Ministries for implementation of the guidelines. Let joint latest report be filed before the Tribunal on the next date of hearing.

"We make it clear that if a definite improvement in environment resulting from burning of crops is not reflected and it is not shown to us that the policy is resulting in actual action on ground level, then we will be compelled to pass certain coercive orders," the bench said.