In anticipation of stubble burning, Bhupender Yadav discusses action plan with Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan, Punjab and UP

Vibha Sharma 
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, September 23

As the season of stubble burning sets in, putting under the spotlight pollution levels in north India, Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav on Thursday discussed the implementation of the Commission for Air Quality Management action plan to mitigate air pollution due to ‘parali’ burning and factors like dust, construction and demolition waste, vehicular pollution and combustion of solid waste, with stakeholders Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.

Expressing satisfaction at the response of all states, Yadav said yesterday he also talked with Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi who assured him complete cooperation.

“It was heartening to note that the spirit with which the Commission for Air Quality Management was conceived is reflected in the action plan of states. The outcome of the action plan will significantly depend on the efficacy of the enforcement and implementation by states,” he said.

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, environment ministers of Delhi, UP, Rajasthan, senior officials from Punjab and Ministries of Agriculture, Power, Animal Husbandry and chairperson of Air Quality Commission MM Kutty were present at the meeting which discussed various in-situ and ex-situ measures for control and prevent large-scale stubble burning.

Yadav said Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has done a project of bio-decomposition in the five states and efforts have been made by Haryana for bio-decomposition in 1 lakh acres, by Punjab in 5 lakh acres and by Delhi in 4000 acres.

The Environment Ministry has also held discussions for using ‘parali’ for generation of electricity and animal fodder with Agriculture and Power ministries.

The Power Ministry along with state-owned power generator NTPC will procure 20 million tonnes of bio-pellets made of farm stubble, including Punjab, to be used as fuel along with coal.

Directions have been issued to all thermal power plants within a 300-km radius of Delhi to co-fire biomass pellets with coal, which will not only help utilise ‘parali’ but also enhance income of farmers, he said.

The Agriculture Ministry, which has earmarked Rs 400 crore for the next five years for tackling stubble burning, has made a task force to use it as cattle feed, identifying Kutch in Gujarat and Jaisalmer in Rajasthan for this. 

Yadav said with the collaborative efforts of all stakeholders, local administration, regulatory bodies and enforcement agencies coupled with aggressive awareness campaign, he was positive there will be significant improvement in air quality in Delhi-NCR region.

“In-situ management of stubble by bio-decomposition in large scale by UP, Haryana, Delhi and Punjab, mandatory use of bio-mass with 50 per cent paddy straw as a supplement fuel in thermal power plants in NCR, setting up of a task force to work on mode and means for utilising it as fodder in Rajasthan and Gujarat, common manure development facility using rice straw and private participation to encourage in-situ management of (bio-decomposition) are steps in the direction,” he said.

Yadav said states are also making efforts at their own level. Haryana has allocated Rs 200 crores as incentive to farmers for containing stubble burning. UP is doing bio-decomposition in 10 lakh acres with an innovative exchange programme allowing exchange of ‘parali’ with cow dung-based manure.

Other action

Directions issued to NCR states, road owning agencies and municipal bodies for abatement of dust from roads /open areas through a ‘Dust Control and Management Cell’.

For mitigating the industrial pollution, shifting of industries to PNG/cleaner fuels.

All identified 124 border entry points of Delhi provided with RFID system to avoid traffic congestions.

PUSA bio-decomposer technology will be deployed free of cost in Haryana for management of 1 lakh acres, in Delhi for 4,000 acres and Punjab around 7,413 acres. Apart from this, private company UPL is also targeting 5 lakh acres in Punjab, free of cost for farmers, according to officials.

The composition of bio-mass pallet to be used in TPP is to have 50% stubble residue (agri-residue) as its ingredient. Further, 5-10% is the feed quantity of biomass pallet with respect to total fuel consumption (substitute to coal).