Burning of crop residue may pick up around

Diwali

Latest data provided by Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) shows an overall decline in stubble burning incidents https://t.co/z5OIDk8K1K — ANI (@ANI) 1540615888000

NEW DELHI: The full test of farm fire episodes in Delhi’s neighbourhood is yet to come, but farmers in both Punjab and Haryana appear to have responded well to government’s measures to curb the practice by collectively recording a 43% decline in stubble-burning during the first 30 days of the current harvest season.Cases of stubble-burning are substantially less in both Punjab (-48%) and Haryana (-30%) so far this season as against the corresponding period last year, shows the latest data accessed by the TOI from the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) and the Haryana agriculture department.Government data shows the two states reported 9,462 incidents of stubble burning this year (September 27-October 25) as compared to 16,749 in the same period last year.The state reported a total 4,202 cases during these five days out of 6,207 in the past 30 days, showing a clear spike.The next 15 days are expected to witness a substantial increase in farm fires from current levels as most farmers harvest their paddy and ready their farms for winter crops (wheat, mustard and potato ). The fires are expected to peak around Diwali — contributing to the already bad air quality during that time in Delhi-NCR.However, officials in both the states are confident of bringing down the overall figure of stubble burning this year, banking on further expanding the use of in-situ crop residue machines and awareness campaigns.“The trends observed so far are encouraging and it is expected to reduce by more than 50% from the previous year’s figures,” Krunesh Garg, member secretary of the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) told TOI.Garg attributed the decline to Punjab government’s concerted campaign to make farmers aware of the benefits of in-situ incorporation of paddy straw into the soil. He said supply of implements to farmers on subsidised rates and enforcement of ban order played significant roles.The states are being supported by the Centre through a scheme on in-situ management of paddy straw, where it has earmarked Rs 1,151.8 crore for the current year and the next, with Punjab getting more than 50% (Rs 669 crore) of the funds. Referring to Haryana’s progress, Suresh Gahlawat, additional director agriculture, said, “Though the spike in stubble burning cases is expected in next 10 to 15 days as sowing this year was delayed, we would be more than satisfied if able to bring the cases down to one-third of last year.”Haryana has got over Rs 137 crore from the Centre in 2018-19 for handling the situation by providing subsidy to farmers to procure the required farm machineries (super straw management systems, happy seeders and paddy straw mulchers) to manage stubble.Gahlawat told TOI that the state has already set up 900 ‘custom hiring centres’ from where farmers can procure machines for managing paddy straw. “Creating awareness is the key and therefore we have increased our field extension activities so that farmers get required information and other support to stop the practice of stubble burning which is not harming their health but also damaging soil fertility of their farms,” he said.Both Punjab and Haryana have reported the maximum number of farm fires in the past 10 days (October 15-25). While Punjab recorded the season’s worst in terms of single day episode on October 23 by reporting 1,147 cases, Haryana reported its single day’s worst figure of 338 on October 18.Punjab has, however, seen a consistent decline in farm fire episodes during the first 30 days of the harvest season. It had reported 17,745 cases in 2016 which declined to 12,074 in 2017 and 6,207 this year.