New Delhi: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) said it is because Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, and UP failed to provide an adequate number of requisite machines, which forced farmers to burn the stubbles, causing enormous pollution.

The Rights body made this remark on Thursday as it heard the Chief Secretaries of Delhi, Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh in connection with its suo motu cognizance of unabated air pollution in Delhi- NCR, a statement said here on Saturday.

The Commission after considering the responses of the concerned States was of the opinion that the farmers are burning stubbles under compulsion, it said.

“The state governments have to provide harvest machines to get rid of those stubbles but they have failed to provide an adequate number of requisite machines and other measures, as a result, farmers are forced to burn the stubbles, causing pollution,” the NHRC had said.

It added,”None of the states can blame the farmers for stubble burning. It is due to their failure that the stubble burning is happening in Delhi, Punjab, Haryana and UP causing enormous pollutants in the air.”

The Commission has asked the concerned Chief Secretaries to remain present again either in person or hybrid mode on November 18 for the next hearing in the matter and submit prior of this, their response/affidavits within four days positively on the points raised by it, among others, during the deliberations and considerations of their responses, as per the release.

Some of the other common points on which the Commission has sought reports within four days, include among others, the status of assistance to farmers for in–situ management of crop residue through machines, it said.