New Delhi: With the arrival of the winter, a season suited for harvesting different crops across India especially in northwest India, the issue of stubble burning becomes a matter of concern.
To curb the pollution level generated due to the stubble burning, various state governments have prepared action plans.
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However, expert has opined that the government's action plans for stubble burning are 'too late, too little' as this year the situation may get worse due to the outbreak of coronavirus pandemic.
Vimlendu Jha, an environmental expert and the founder of Swechha said, "The situation in 2020 will not differ from 2019, 2018 or 2017. Stubble burning is a serious issue. We haven't really noticed concrete steps taken by respective state governments or the Centre. There are instances of stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana and the situation will only be going to increase in the next two weeks".
Last week, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change officials held a meeting with 5 states including Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh to chalk out an action plan for the stubble burning issue.
During a press conference, Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar told the media that a stubble burning solution called Pusa Decomposer will be tried in all states, and it will be used extensively from next year if proves to be beneficial.
"All these test trails need to be conducted earlier, and no in the meantime," said Jha adding, " When there is a fire in your apartment, you don't really start digging a well. You need to get ready about it".
Stubble burning is one of the key reasons for thick, heavy smog covered the national capital during post-October.
Delhi's air quality has already reached the 'moderate' category as per the air quality index (AQI) monitored by SAFAR of Ministry of Earth Sciences.
Speaking about the action plans of governments, Vimlendu Jha said, "The trails in Delhi and other parts of the country which have begun in October, should have actually started it in the month of May or June. It's too little too late and we don't know how effective it's going to be if this really gets the uptake from the farmers because the main reason why the farmers burn the stubble is because of time. They don't have much time before the two crops."
"It's too late for 2020 to really think for a new plan, they should have thought about these plans much earlier and prepared the farmers by taking them into confidence. The imposition of air pollution or stubble burning action plans need to be done on the ground level rather than just on pen and paper," he added.
In the wake of novel coronavirus pandemic, this air pollution can make the pre-existing respiratory conditions worse than earlier.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced, on Monday, that a 'war room' will be set up to monitor all anti-pollution measures taken by his government.
Asserting over the damage air pollution can cause to the lungs and how dangerous it can be during the COVID-19 crisis, the environmental expert said that the Cente needs to understand the seriousness of the situation and needs to have a consolidated, comprehensive plan on the ground level.
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He opined that the policymakers need to plan to tackle stubble burning issue while considering both public health as well as the pandemic situation.
Jha suggested, "It cannot be just one-state plan. It has to be everybody's business and it has to be understood from the perspective of the public health, and pandemic. So, public health plus pandemic is what should actually guide our policymakers and our government institutions in that sense."
