‘Pusa biodecomposer to curb stubble burning’: Delhi CM Kejriwal reveals winter action plan

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday asserted that the decline in pollution levels in the national capital is a result of government initiatives. He unveiled the winter action plan aimed at mitigating pollution and highlighted the decrease in the number of days experiencing severe pollution over the past eight years.

Key government efforts contributing to this improvement include the introduction of electric buses and the implementation of the EV Policy, among other measures, as outlined during a press conference.

Kejriwal detailed the winter action plan, revealing that the Pusa biodecomposer, designed to prevent stubble burning, will be applied to 5,000 hectares of farmland this year—an increase from the 4,400 hectares covered in the previous year. Developed by the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), the Pusa biodecomposer is a microbial solution capable of converting paddy straw into manure within 15-20 days.

To combat dust pollution, the government plans to deploy 530 water sprinklers, while 385 teams will be tasked with inspecting vehicles for pollution certificates and preventing the operation of overage cars. In 2018, the Supreme Court imposed a ban on diesel and petrol vehicles older than 10 and 15 years, respectively, in Delhi, with non-compliant vehicles subject to impoundment. A 2014 order from the National Green Tribunal prohibits the parking of vehicles older than 15 years in public places.

Addressing open burning of garbage, Kejriwal emphasized its prohibition in Delhi and announced the deployment of 611 monitoring teams to ensure compliance. Furthermore, he encouraged residents to download the Green Delhi mobile application and report any activities causing pollution to the government.

(With PTI inputs)