New Delhi: The burning of paddy crop residue, which has been the major cause of pollution in Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and western Uttar Pradesh, has declined by 41% across the region.
This decline can be attributed to the scheme - ‘Promotion of Agricultural Mechanization for In-Situ Management of Crop Residue', sanctioned by the central government with a budget of Rs 1151.8 crore.
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) had further claimed that there has been a considerable reduction in crop residue burning incidents and 4500 villages in Punjab and Haryana have been declared 'Zero Stubble Burning Village' during 2018; as no burning incident was reported from these villages during the year .
Addressing a press conference in Delhi on Tuesday, ICAR Director General Trilochan Mohapatra said that ICAR and Punjab Agricultural University have jointly developed agricultural devices for farmers, through which they can leave straw in the ground and sow crops without burning the remains.