Govt Mulls New Initiatives to Curb Stubble Burning to Combat Delhi Air Pollution

Efforts are on to strengthen collaboration between state and central agencies to reach farmers more effectively to reduce crop residue burning in Delhi surroundings.

New Delhi: In a bid to tackle Delhi’s severe annual pollution problem, a high-level virtual meeting was held here today. The meeting was attended by Union Minister for Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav, Minister of State for Agriculture Bhagirath Chaudhary, agricultural ministers from Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, and Delhi, and other senior officials from these states.

Officials shared that crop residue burning in Punjab has reduced by 35% this year, and by 21% in Haryana. Since 2017, incidents of stubble burning have decreased by over 51%, yet continued vigilance is essential. State representatives reported they are closely monitoring crop residue burning through designated nodal officers, following the Supreme Court’s directives, and launching awareness campaigns.

The practice of crop residue burning not only degrades soil health by killing essential organisms but also reduces soil fertility. Efforts are underway to promote awareness campaigns and strengthen the collaboration between state and central agencies to reach farmers more effectively.

The central government has distributed over 300,000 crop management machines at subsidized rates to support farmers for sustainable stubble disposal. For smaller farmers, Custom Hiring Centers are helping provide access to these machines, enabling them to turn crop residue into compost rather than burning it.

The meeting also highlighted the promotion of bio-decomposers and the development of a mapping system to channel crop residue to nearby industries for sustainable use. Additional discussions focused on curbing pollution from other sources, like firecracker use, to mitigate its environmental impact.

Participants resolved to intensify their collective efforts to safeguard the environment and ensure that pollution remains in check, protecting public health and preserving air quality.