Fortunately, there is no dearth of potential gainful uses of crop residues
Farmers have indicated that they will continue with the practice unless the govt compensates them suitably for the expenses they will incur by adopting alternative methods of disposing of crop residue
Paddy straw burning in Punjab and Haryana after the harvest is one of the major reasons for an alarming spike in air pollution levels in the national capital in October and November every year
Punjab generates around 20 million tons of paddy straw annually
Bhagwant Mann said the Centre has turned down the state government's proposal of contributing to the cash incentive to farmers for not burning stubble
Farmers are unconvinced about financial incentives; measures announced in previous years have had little impact
CAQM has asked Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to formulate a policy to ensure continuous supply of paddy straw for ex-situ utilisation and co-firing in thermal power plants.
Ministry of Power has asked states to formulate time-bound plans to ensure the utilisation of biomass for co-firing in thermal power plants ahead of the Kharif harvest season
He also called upon people to work for the betterment of air quality, saying it is everyone's responsibility as citizens of the country to look after 'mother nature'
Police complaints or cases were registered against 2,943 farmers for stubble burning from 2019 to 2021 in Haryana and 736 were arrested in 2019 and 2020, the state assembly was informed on Wednesday
It's not rocket science to understand whether the pollution is generated locally, or it comes from neighbouring states, or is a combination of both
The central govt is working towards making use of stubble in making biofuels and manure in an exercise aimed at reducing incidents of its burning, seen to be a source of air pollution in the region
As many as 71,024 farm fires were recorded till November 22 compared to 76,501 during the same period last year
Appealing protesting farmers to end their agitation, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said the Centre has agreed to their demand of decriminalising stubble burning
Focus on farmers' protests, upcoming polls have diluted state's drive against the practice
Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Wednesday promised farmers to drop old cases of stubble burning against them but asked them not to set the paddy straw on fire in future
The Supreme Court Wednesday took exception to farmers being blamed for stubble burning amidst the air pollution crisis in the NCR
Bhartiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait on Tuesday said farmers or stubble burning should not be blamed for air pollution, citing a Supreme Court observation
Farmers have kept flouting the ban on paddy stubble burning across the state, they said.
Asks Centre to hold emergency meet; Delhi govt says ready for complete lockdown to control air pollution