Page 2 - Stubble Burning Air Pollution

Haryana witnesses 29% decline in stubble burning incidents this year

There has been a 29 per cent decline in stubble burning incidents this year compared to the corresponding year-ago period due to the significant steps being taken by the Haryana government for crop residue management, it said on Monday. Acting on the directives of Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, a state-specific scheme has been implemented to curb incidents of stubble burning, according to an official statement. This initiative provides financial assistance to farmers for crop residue management while setting zero-burning targets for panchayats. As a result of these efforts, there have been 713 recorded incidents of stubble burning this year, marking a 29 per cent reduction compared to the corresponding year-ago period, it said. However, strict action has been taken against law violators, the statement further said. Police cases have been registered against 192 farmers for burning stubble, it added. "So far, 334 challans have been issued and fines amounting to Rs 8.45 lakh recov

'Current effort only eyewash': SC slams Centre, states over stubble burning

The Supreme Court has reprimanded the Centre and state governments for failing to control stubble burning, emphasising citizens' right to a pollution-free environment

'Environment laws toothless': SC raps Centre over rising Delhi pollution

Delhi's air quality index (AQI) stood at 354 on Wednesday, marking an increase from the previous 24-hour average of 327, which falls under the 'very poor' category

Delhi AQI slips further: How 'cocktail of pollutants' reach your lungs

Delhi air quality today: Data from the Centre-backed Air Quality Early Warning System showed multiple weather monitoring stations in the national capital hovering in the 'red' mark between the 350-400

Haryana suspends 24 agri dept officials for failing to stop stubble burning

Haryana's Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Department has suspended 24 officials over alleged failure to take adequate steps to prevent stubble burning incidents in their respective areas. An order in this regard was issued on October 20. While the order mentioned that the officials are suspended on administrative grounds, a senior officer of the department on Tuesday said the action has been taken because of the alleged failure of these officials to prevent stubble burning incidents. He said that more stubble burning cases were found in their areas. The officials, who have been placed under suspension, include agriculture inspectors, supervisors and agriculture development officers from nine districts --Jind, Panipat, Hisar, Kaithal, Karnal, Fatehabad, Kurukshetra, Sonipat and Ambala. When reporters here on Tuesday asked Haryana's Agriculture Minister Shyam Singh Rana the reason behind suspension of the 24 officials, he said, "The reason is that stubble should not be burnt." "Wh

Punjab Police registers over 870 FIRs in stubble burning cases in a month

Punjab Police said on Monday said it has lodged over 870 FIRs for stubble burning in over a month and imposed fines of Rs 10.55 lakh on the offenders. Besides, red entries have also been made in revenue records of nearly 400 farmers for burning crop residue, they further said. Red entries marked in revenue records makes it difficult for farmers to sell, mortgage their land or avail loans against it. Special Director General of Police (Law and Order) Arpit Shukla said the Punjab Police, jointly with civil administration, has initiated a massive campaign to educate farmers about harmful effects of stubble burning and also the possible legal actions against those found putting matchstick to paddy straw. He said legal action is being initiated against those found burning stubble. "Till now, 1,393 farm fires were detected by satellites in the state, and joint teams were sent for inspection on the spot," Shukla said, adding that police teams have registered FIRs in 874 cases since Septe

'Absolute defiance': SC slams Punjab, Haryana over stubble burning

Terms air pollution monitoring panel in NCR as 'toothless wonder'; summons Haryana chief secretary to explain non-compliance and lack of strict measures against offenders

Stubble burning: CAQM allows DMs to take legal action against lax officials

The Centre's Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has empowered district magistrates to take legal action against officials failing to enforce restrictions on stubble burning in Delhi, Punjab, Haryana and the NCR areas of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. The CAQM, a statutory body tasked with preparing strategies to curb air pollution in Delhi-NCR, said 267 stubble-burning incidents were reported in Punjab and 187 in Haryana between September 15 and October 9. "Taking into account the current situation and to ensure effective implementation of the action plans at the field level, the CAQM has authorised deputy commissioners/district collectors/district magistrates in Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and NCR areas of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh to file a complaint/prosecution before jurisdictional judicial magistrate in case of inaction in respect of officials, including nodal officers and supervisory officers and station house officers, responsible for effective enforcement towards ensurin

Stubble burning: From Ground Zero in Punjab, bad news for Delhi-NCR

Govts step up efforts, but farmers say policies unclear, assistance insufficient

This 'red entry' in Punjab has farmers fuming. Here is what it means

Farmers are opposing Punjab's plan to introduce "red entries" in land records for those caught burning paddy stubble-a major contributor to air pollution during winter

Delhi govt to give free bio-decomposer spray to combat stubble burning

Development Minister Gopal Rai has announced the Delhi government's initiative to provide free bio-decomposer spray across over 5,000 acres of farmland to reduce pollution and promote sustainable agricultural practices. Following a high-level meeting with the Agriculture Department and experts from the Pusa Agricultural Research Institute, Rai said the government is making every effort to ensure the timely and effective spraying of bio-decomposer. "So far, 841 farmers have signed up for the programme, and the numbers are expected to rise as awareness campaigns are carried out across farming communities," Rai said. "In our efforts to curb the seasonal rise in pollution due to stubble burning, the Kejriwal government is committed to providing free bio-decomposer spray as we did last year. This year, we will cover over 5,000 acres of farmland," the minister said. He added, "Stubble burning has been included as a key focus area in this year's Winter Action Plan. By spraying ...

Punjab govt to procure over 11,000 CRM machines to check stubble burning

The Punjab government has issued sanction letters for procuring 11,052 crop residue management (CRM) machines to help farmers manage paddy straw, said Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian on Tuesday. Khuddian also said 5,534 CRM machines have already been acquired so far by farmers in the state. Of these, 4,640 machines were purchased by individual farmers, 745 by registered farmer groups, 119 by cooperative societies and 30 by farmer producer organisations, he said in a statement. He further said super seeder machine leads the pack among CRM machines, with 4,945 sanction letters issued for this equipment. The minister said the department received 21,830 applications from farmers, cooperative societies and panchayats seeking subsidies for different crop residue management (CRM) machinery during the Kharif season 2024-25. Khuddian also mentioned that 163 custom hiring centres have been established across the state to facilitate small and marginal farmers in accessing CRM ...

NGT asks Punjab to explain how it will handle 19 mn tonnes of paddy stubble

Green Tribunal seeks information from the state on stubble management in 2023 and 2024

Air Pollution: Several states haven't utilised sanctioned funds, says NGT

This comes after NGT going through the reports filed by various states on the implementation of comprehensive mitigation measures for the prevention, control, and reduction of air pollution

Delhi air pollution: Gopal Rai to hold review meeting with DPCC today

The air quality in the national capital continued to hover in the 'very poor' category on Friday, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at over 350 in several areas

Delhi's AQI 'very poor' at 388 on Friday, Grap-3 rules to continue

Delhi Minister for Environment Gopal Rai on Thursday said that the city's air quality is expected to improve in the next two to three days

Haryana CM should stop doing politics: Punjab minister on stubble burning

The Punjab Police on Wednesday said it has arrested three people allegedly linked to a Pakistan-based terror module. Eight weapons and 30 cartridges were recovered from their possession, Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav said, In a major breakthrough, Counter Intelligence #Bathinda has arrested 3 persons linked to #ISI-controlled #Pak-based terror module. Preliminary investigation reveals that the arrested persons were in contact with persons currently lodged in Sangrur Jail under UAPA cases, Yadav said in his post on X. Recovery: 8 weapons, 9 Magazines & 30 Live Cartridges. FIR registered at PS Cantt Bathinda, Further investigations ongoing for unveiling forward & backward linkages, Yadav added.

Stubble burning, a major cause of Delhi air pollution: Punit Renjen

Stubble burning, which is a major source of air pollution in the national capital region every winter, is a solvable problem, said Indian-American Punit Renjen, the Deputy Chair of German software firm SAP, based on the two pilot projects he has launched in Haryana and Punjab. It is very serious and there are multiple reasons for it. But stubble burning contributes about 25 per cent to 30 per cent of the air quality issues (in Delhi). There are 80,000 fire incidents in northern India, particularly in Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. About 13 million tonnes of stubble is burned and 19 million tonnes of carbon dioxide and other harmful gases are put into the atmosphere, Punit Renjen told PTI. The top Indian American CEO, who has made part of his mission to help fight air pollution in the national capital region, said 15 million adjusted life years is equivalent to 2 lakh people dying each year as a result of stubble burning. "There's USD 300 million of lost revenue," who is also th

Over 930 FIRs registered against farmers for burning stubble: Punjab Police

Punjab Police has registered 932 FIRs against farmers for burning crop residue since November 8 while a fine of Rs 1.67 crore has been imposed in 7,405 cases, a senior official said on Sunday. According to the Special Director General of Police Arpit Shukla, red entries were made in the revenue records of 340 farmers for stubble burning. He said concerted efforts by the Punjab Police to prevent stubble burning have yielded significant results as case of farm fire fell "drastically" in the last two days. On Sunday and Saturday, the state recorded 740 and 637 farm fire cases respectively. Paddy straw burning in Punjab and Haryana is considered one of the reasons behind the alarming spike in air pollution levels in the national capital in October and November. Delhi's air quality index stood at 290 at 7 am. The 24-hour average AQI of Delhi, recorded at 4 pm every day, was 319 on Saturday, 405 on Friday and 419 on Thursday. In many parts of Haryana and Punjab, air quality indices remai

Delhi's air quality 'very poor', vehicular emissions largest contributor

Delhi air quality: Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai will on Thursday hold a meeting with departments on the effective implementation of measures outlined in the Centre's air pollution control plan