Ludhiana
13 September 2017
DIVYA AZAD
Legal Initiative for Forest and Environment (LIFE), a Delhi based legal support group for environmental matters, in collaboration with a local non-profit civil Society Organization, Kheti Virasat, who work directly with farmers of Punjab towards promoting sustainable and ecological farming practice organized a day long workshop on ‘Air Pollution: Crisis, Response and Action Plan’ in Ludhiana on 13thSeptember, 2017.
Crop burning has been held largely responsible for the appalling situation of air pollution in all of the Indo Gangetic plains and various strict and active actions were directed to be taken by the National Green Tribunal in the capital city. While crop burning is one of the prime contributors to air pollution, there are various other non-seasonal sources that require equal, if not more, attention.
The participants included organic farmers, local activists, lawyers and institutions like ATARI, PAU and Progressive Bee keeper who intensely discussed the issue of crop burning and the government’s inability in finding any practical and alternative solution to the issue and the insensitivity in imposing penalty upon farmers as the solution.
The workshop is intended to understand the effectiveness and practicality of implementation of government’s action plans and steps to curb air pollution.
Socially and environmentally conscious groups were enthusiastic about taking steps together in the future in order to come to a solution. A few priority areas had to be decided to start the work on ground, as the issues are many.
The importance of litigation and activist movements to go hand in hand was highlighted and understood.
