Minister level inter-ministerial meeting held on the issues of management of crop residue burning

New Delhi [India], October 26 : An inter-ministerial meeting to address issues related to the management of crop residue burning is scheduled for Saturday, co-chaired by Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav, according to an official release.
State government ministers from Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and the NCT of Delhi outlined the measures being taken to prevent paddy stubble burning and shared various initiatives aimed at supporting farmers in managing crop residue without burning.
The Haryana government highlighted the incentives provided to farmers, including Rs. 1,000 per acre for managing crop residue through baling, an additional Rs. 500/MT for clusters identified by Indian Oil Corporation Limited for the 2G ethanol plant in Panipat, and a standard rate of Rs. 2,500/MT for paddy straw. Furthermore, transportation subsidies of Rs. 500 per acre (up to Rs. 15,000) are being offered to Gaushalas for paddy straw bales, along with a one-time grant of Rs. 7,000 per acre under the "Mera Pani Meri Virasat" initiative to encourage crop diversification. An additional Rs. 4,000 per acre is also provided for direct seeding of rice.
Incident reports show a 35% reduction in stubble burning in Punjab and a 21% reduction in Haryana compared to the same period last year. States have been advised to develop strategic plans, allocate resources, and target potential hotspots to curb future incidents.
Through a centrally sponsored Crop Residue Management Scheme, the Government of India is financially supporting Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and the NCT of Delhi to mitigate air pollution in the Delhi-NCR region caused by stubble burning. So far this year, Rs. 275 crore of the Rs. 600 crore allocation has been disbursed. The scheme encourages the use of in-situ and ex-situ crop residue management equipment through financial assistance to farmers, cooperative societies, farmers' producer organisations, and panchayats.
The scheme also promotes widespread awareness about stubble management through state agencies and three ATARIs, as well as 60 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). Recognising the benefits of bio-decomposers, the scheme includes provisions for large-scale demonstrations of this technology on farmers' fields. Additionally, provisions are in place to establish techno-commercial projects for the paddy straw supply chain, offering flexibility in financial contributions from beneficiaries, aggregators, and industries that use paddy straw. Financial assistance of 65% on the capital cost of machinery (up to Rs. 1.5 crore) is provided to support a reliable supply chain for paddy straw in biomass power generation and biofuel production.
To effectively control paddy stubble burning, states have prepared comprehensive, micro-level action plans, which now require stringent implementation. Ensuring the effective use of more than 3 lakh machines distributed to date is crucial. The complementary use of bio-decomposers with crop residue management machines is also essential for the in-situ decomposition of straw.
Mass awareness campaigns, including Kisan Melas, publications, seminars, and advisories involving all stakeholders, are recommended. Small landholders should be encouraged to use Custom Hiring Centres, where rental rates for machinery are lower than market rates. Expanding crop diversification programmes and adopting alternative crops to paddy can also help address the problem. Burning waste materials, including paddy straw and sugarcane trash, significantly contributes to pollution, particularly in Delhi, impacting public health. Therefore, a collaborative, mission-mode approach at the state level to repurpose paddy straw (praalii ko khet meN hii khpaao) is vital. If all measures within this framework are adopted holistically at the state level, stubble burning can be effectively managed.
The Union Ministers commended the state governments for their efforts in reducing paddy stubble burning and encouraged them to strive towards a "mission zero burning" goal.
The meeting was attended by agriculture ministers from Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh; the Minister for Environment, Forest, & Wildlife from the NCT of Delhi; senior state government officials from Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi; as well as senior officials from the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DA&FW), the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the Central Pollution Control Board, and the Commission for Air Quality Management in Delhi-NCR.