The court directed the Centre to respond within four weeks. The court would also consider a prayer for a special committee to be formed to deal specifically with the issue of crop burning in Punjab and Haryana. with the representatives of both State governments and the Centre to oversee and ensure that preventive or corrective measures are taken. The applications suggested that the Centre allow farmers to convert maize to ethanol. As an interim measure, the court is considering asking the Meteorological department and the Punjab government to advise farmers on the “safe windows for burning crops with strict penal action taken against those who transgress”.

Source: The Hindu December 01, 2017 18:00 UTC