Punjab has succeeded in dousing the smouldering problem of stubble burning, at least to some extent. Following vigorous campaign launched by the State Government against the burning of paddy residue, Punjab has witnessed a steep decline in the incidents of fire, thus improving the ambient air quality.
“Data from Punjab Remote Sensing Centre (PRSC) depicts that 3,228 cases of stubble burning were reported across the State from September 27 to October 22, 2018, as compared to 8,420 and 13,358 cases in corresponding period during 2017 and 2016,” said the state Agriculture Secretary-cum-State Nodal Officer of Anti-Stubble Burning Campaign KS Pannu on Friday. Pannu pointed out that this marked improvement was mainly attributed to the positive response of the farmers coupled with environmental friendly initiatives taken by the State Government as well as the Central Government to check the menace of stubble burning.
He revealed that due to less fire incidents, the Air Quality Index (AQI) of Punjab is far better now than that in the corresponding period.
Punjab’s AQI is 111 against 326 in the corresponding period last year. An AQI between 0 and 50 is considered good, 51 and 100 satisfactory, 101 and 200 moderate, 201 and 300 poor, 301, 400 very poor and 401-500 severe.
Notably, the State Government has already embarked upon a massive programme for management of paddy straw, without burning, by the farmers.
As many as 24,315 subsidized agro-machines or equipments are being supplied to the farmers, Cooperative Societies and Custom Hiring Centres to achieve zero burning of paddy straw.
Over 21,000 farm equipments or agro-machines have been so far provided to the farmers for in-situ management of paddy straw in a scientific manner.
A massive awareness campaign through print, electronic and social media as well as by employing NGOs, youth clubs and education institutions has been launched.
Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh had earlier directed the Agriculture Department to actively engage its machinery for on-ground activities at the village level to effectively tackle the menace of stubble burning.
On his directives, the State Government has already appointed nodal officers in 8,000 paddy growing villages in a move to check stubble burning efficaciously.
These villages have been identified by the Agriculture Department where paddy stubble is traditionally being burnt. Notably, the Chief Minister had recently met Prime Minister Narendra Modi for seeking Rs 100 per quintal as compensation only for those farmers who abstain from burning paddy residue under the State Government’s ambitious programme for management of paddy straw. Paddy is grown on 65 lakh acres of land in Punjab.
After harvesting paddy, about 20 million tonnes of paddy straw is left in the fields to be managed by farmers before sowing the next Rabi crops.
RENEW POWER JOIN HANDS WITH CII TO ADDRESS STUBBLE BURNING MENACE
Aiming to offset the stubble burning of 5,000 acres of land in Punjab, country’s leading renewable energy independent power producer ReNew Power has joined hands with the Confederation of Indian Industries in its ‘Clean Air Better Life’ initiative to help farmers from Punjab with alternative stubble management techniques to address the complex problem of increasing levels of air pollution in Delhi NCR. Under this program, the Company has committed to support 500 farmers from Ludhiana district and provide them access to climate smart technological solutions for farm residue management.
“These machines cut and collect stubble, sow fresh crop in the bare soil and deposit the stubble in the sown area as mulch, which helps the soil to retain its moisture and improve its fertility,” said Company’s Chief Sustainability Officer Vaishali Nigam Sinha.
Besides, the Company will also support awareness drives across the region to educate farming communities on the ill effects of burning farm stubbles which not only contributes to the rise in air pollution, but also has a negative on the farm and soil ecology, which in turn further deteriorates farmer’s margin.