Centre aims zero stubble burning in current season: Agriculture Minister

To achieve this, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana and Delhi governments presented their action plan and strategies for preventing paddy stubble burning at an inter-ministerial meeting on Thursday

The Central government will work towards achieving zero paddy stubble burning incidents in the current season, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said on Friday.

He, while expressing dismay at the mismatch between funds spent on buying machinery and ongoing incidents of stubble burning directed states to ensure monitoring of funds spent and also increase the use of bi-decomposers.

Stubble burning is a process of setting on fire the straw stubble, left after the harvesting of paddy.

It is a common practice in October and November primarily in Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. The smoke from the burnt stubble engulfs the skies during these months which along with winters raises air pollution to hazardous for Delhi and its neighbouring areas.

Meanwhile, to achieve zero stubble burning this year, states of UP, Punjab, Haryana and Delhi governments representatives of whom were present in a meeting called by the Centre presented their action plans and strategies for preventing paddy stubble burning.

"The aim in the current season is to work towards achieving zero stubble burning," Tomar said.

The Centre is providing sufficient funds under Crop Residue Management (CRM)scheme to the four states and they must ensure proper utilization by providing machines to farmers in a timely manner, he said in a statement.

There is a need for proper monitoring at the state level to ensure proper utilization of the machines and the use of bio-decomposer, he added.

Tomar further said focus should also shift on using paddy straw for commercial purpose by way of ex-situ management.

Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav who was also present at the meeting said that the efforts to prevent paddy stubble burning for the last five years are bearing good results.

"There is a need to encourage ex-situ management of paddy straw which will provide raw materials to the user industries like power, biomass, etc," he added.