The Delhi Government will start preparing Pusa bio-decomposer, a scientifically method to turn pollution contributing stubble into manure from September 24. The microbial solution will be ready by October 5, Environment Minister Gopal Rai said on Monday. The Delhi Government will provide this solution free to city farmers to spray in 4,000 hectares of paddy farmlands. A 25 members’ committee of city Government will coordinate with the farmers for this initiative. While the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Government has urged the national Capital’s neighboring States also to follow the Pusa techniques to combat pollution caused due to half burnt particles of crop residues, the city Government is waiting for an interaction with the Union Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav in this regard.
Rai, addressing the media, said that his Union counterpart is yet to give time for a meeting on the use of Pusa bio-decomposer in states.
It is pivotal to mention here, according to SAFAR’s observation on stubble burning pollution data, at least 33 percent pollution in city is mainly due to the burning of paddy crop husk. The concentration of harmful particles has been observed abnormally high starting from September end till November when meteorological factors remain unfavorable for Delhi’s atmosphere due to thermal inversion.
Meanwhile, Rai illustrated about the scientific method that was used in previous year also. “Stubble burning pollution engulfs North India like a blanket; can’t get freedom from it without other states acting on it,” Rai said, “farmers just need to fill a form giving details about their land; Delhi government provide it free for farmers.”
As the third-party audit has also been done on Pusa technique to combat stubble burning pollution, Rai said , “the solution will be prepared at the Horticulture Department Nursery in Kharkhari Nahar. The preparations will take place centrally at this location and by the 29th of September we will double the quantity of the solution. By 5th October, the bio-decomposer will be ready to be sprayed. We will provide the spray from this location to wherever it is required in Delhi. Last time, the process started on 5th October, this time it will be completed by then. The spray will then be readily available for the farmers.”
With the help of state agriculture department and tractors, the spray will be sprinkled in core paddy cultivation areas in north-west and south Delhi.
“About 10 litres of spray is required for an acre of land. For this much spray 4 capsules developed by the Pusa Institute are needed. The capsules are mixed with 250 gram Jaggery(gud),150 gram Gram Flour(besan). The mixture is then cooked and stored for 5 days after which the quantity of the solution is doubled. About 25 lacs were spent last year in the process all over Delhi last year. Now that the area has doubled, the cost will also double but it is extremely cost-effective as a solution to curb air-pollution,” Rai added.