Centre spent Rs 3,623 cr for crop residue management: Environment Minister

After Punjab, Haryana received Rs 1,081.71 crore, Uttar Pradesh was allocated Rs 763.67 crore, the NCT of Delhi Rs 6.05 crore, and ICAR Rs 83.35 crore from the total Rs 3,623.45 crore

Since 2018, the Centre has spent Rs 3,623.45 crore on crop residue management in Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, with Rs 1,681.45 crore allocated to Punjab, the highest among the states, Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Kirti Vardhan Singh said in the Lok Sabha.

 

The funds have been used to subsidise crop residue management machinery and set up custom hiring centres (CHCs) to curb stubble burning and promote sustainable practices, the minister told the Lower House on Monday.

 

Over 3 lakh machines have been distributed, including 4,500 balers and rakes for collecting paddy straw for ex-situ utilisation, he said.

 

 

After Punjab, Haryana received Rs 1,081.71 crore, UP was allocated Rs 763.67 crore, NCT of Delhi Rs 6.05 crore, and Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) got Rs 83.35 crore. 

 

 

In 2018, the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare launched a scheme aimed at supporting the purchase of crop residue management machinery and establishment of CHCs in NCT of Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, and UP for in-situ management of paddy straw. In 2023, the ministry revised the scheme’s guidelines to enhance support for establishing a crop residue/paddy straw supply chain, providing financial assistance for the capital cost of machinery and equipment.

 

In collaboration with state authorities and key stakeholders, including Punjab, Haryana, UP, Rajasthan, and NCT of Delhi, along with agencies like Isro, ICAR, and the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), the government has launched a comprehensive action plan to address the widespread issue of crop residue burning.

 

To manage crop residues directly in the fields, the government has allocated crop residue management (CRM) machinery, essential for effectively handling paddy straw. It has also introduced high-yield, short-duration paddy varieties as substitutes for PUSA-44.

 

The government has also mandated the use of Super Straw Management Systems (SMS) with combine harvesters, which chop and evenly spread the straw across the fields, eliminating the need for burning. Additionally, the use of bio-decomposers developed by IARI is encouraged to naturally decompose paddy straw, converting it into a valuable fertiliser.

 

On the ex-situ front, the government is focusing on alternative ways to manage and utilize paddy straw.

 

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) strictly implemented the revised action plan for eliminating crop residue burning.

 

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has set up guidelines under the Environment Protection Charge, offering financial support for establishment of pelletisation and torrefaction plants. These plants will help in converting paddy straw into valuable products.

 

The government has also committed to up to Rs 1.4 crore for pelletisation plants and up to Rs 2.8 crore for torrefaction plants, depending on the plant’s capacity. So far, 17 applications for such plants have been approved, with 15 of them expected to process up to 2.70 lakh tonnes of paddy straw annually.