Delhi and Beyond

Pollution noose around Delhi’s neck: Farmers may not get cash for no stubble burning

Published by
Patriot Bureau

With winter round the corner, Delhi prepare to tackle soaring pollution levels that cover the city’s sky with a thick layer of smog due to paddy straw burning in neighbouring Punjab and Haryana.

On Saturday, Punjab Chief Minister 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.

The state government had proposed to give Rs 2,500 per acre to paddy growers. It suggested that the Centre pay Rs 1,500 per acre while Rs 1,000 per acre will be borne by Punjab and Delhi governments.

Paddy straw burning in Punjab and Haryana is one of the reasons behind the alarming spike in air pollution levels in the national capital in October and November as farmers set their fields on fire to quickly clear off the crop residue before cultivating wheat and potato.

Punjab generates around 20 million tons of paddy straw annually.

In a video message, Punjab CM Mann on Saturday said, “We had written to the Centre that it should help us over the issue of stubble burning.”

“But the Centre has turned down our demand,” said Mann.

He, however, added, “It does not matter. If the central government is not supporting then it does not mean we will not do anything.”

Mann said he has asked his officers to come up with another idea to check the problem.

Sharing some data related to stubble burning, Mann said paddy is sown over 75 lakh acres. Farmers over an area of 37 lakh acres manage stubble through crop residue management machines or other measures, he said.

Mann said the government is arranging machines at a big scale for the rest 38 lakh acres. More than one lakh crop residue management machines will be made available this season for managing stubble, he said.

Under the in-situ management (mixing crop residue in soil) of paddy stubble scheme, the Centre provides funds for supplying subsidised machines for management of crop residue.

With PTI inputs

Instagram: instagram.com/thepatriot_in/
Twitter: twitter.com/Patriot_Delhi
Facebook: facebook.com/Thepatriotnewsindia

Patriot Bureau

Published by
Patriot Bureau

Recent Posts

Delhi to host all India K-pop contest 2024 grand finale tomorrow

The finalists will compete in two categories—dance and vocals—vying for the title and an opportunity…

November 22, 2024

Delhi: Winter of misery for the homeless in the national capital

With the abrupt fall in temperatures, the destitute are left exposed to the chill without…

November 22, 2024

Maitri Bus Service bridges Delhi-Kathmandu, carrying 17,603 passengers in one year

Among the passengers, 4,782 were Indian citizens, 12,471 were Nepalese nationals and 350 came from…

November 22, 2024

Delhi air pollution: SC to consider on Nov 25 if GRAP-4 curbs can be relaxed

A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih expressed displeasure over the…

November 22, 2024

Delhi’s rooftop cafés struggle as air pollution clouds winter charm

With smog choking the capital, iconic open-air spots face dwindling footfall and rising customer concerns

November 22, 2024

Exhibition: The Art of Quilting

The exhibition highlights quilting’s transformation from functional bed coverings to a contemporary art form

November 22, 2024