NGT disposes of plea seeking stay on state govt 'order' on paddy transplantation

The National Green Tribunal (NGT), while declining  to interfere, has disposed of a plea seeking a stay on the Punjab Government’s "order to advance the date of paddy transplantation to June 1”. Generally, paddy transplantation takes place in the middle of June as a measure to conserve excessive ground water extraction.

While disposing of the petition filed before it by advocate HC Arora, the Tribunal has ruled that the petition did not have enough material and was not backed by scientific facts. As a result, there was no need to review the state's policy.

In the original application, the applicant had raised the plea that in terms of Section 3 of the Punjab Preservation of Sub-Soil Water Act, 2009, no farmer was permitted to sow nursery of paddy before May 10 of the agricultural year or such other date as may be notified by the state government by notification in the official gazette of any local area.

“The applicant has approached the Tribunal on the basis of some statement said to have been made by the Chief Minister of Punjab to the press, conveying the decision to start cultivation of paddy from June. No such newspaper has been placed on record. Some type copy as Annexure A-3 has been filed. That apart, the applicant is required to demonstrate the effect of shifting of date on the environment or the ground water level. We do not find any authentic material in support of such a plea,” reads the order.

The order further states that”… in such circumstances, we are of the opinion that if the applicant comes in possession of the authentic material in support of his plea concerning any damage to the environment or reduction of groundwater level on account of shifting of date, he is required to approach the competent authority along with a proper representation with the supporting material. If such a representation is filed by the applicant, the same “will be duly considered by the concerned competent authority expeditiously”.