Centre's steps to tackle stubble burning yield 12% reduction

Union Ministry for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare has adopted several measures to tackle stubble burning incidents, and as per ICAR’s Creams Laboratory latest bulletin, number 34 dated 4th vember 2019, re has been a reduction of 12.01% in incidents of stubble burning compared to same period in 2018, says a press release from Press Information Bureau. release furr reads that States of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab recorded a reduction of 48.2%, 11.7% and 8.7% respectively this year to date. A total of 31,402 burning events were detected in three states between 1st October 2019 and 3rd vember 2019 which are distributed as 25366, 4414 and 1622 in Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh respectively, cited release.

READ | SC Summons Secretaries Of Punjab, Haryana And UP Over Stubble Burning

A high-level committee set up

Earlier, as per directions from Prime Minister’s Office in 2017 with regard to pollution caused in Delhi NCR due to stubble burning in surrounding states, a high-level committee under Secretary (DARE) had been set up. committee has recommended adopting mechanized crop residue manment. As per recommendations, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare has formulated a Scheme which was included in 2018-19 Budget.

READ | Centre: Stubble Burning In Punjab Up 7 Pc, Down By 17 Pc In Haryana

release furr reads, “ Central Sector Scheme, ‘Promotion of Agricultural Mechanization for In-Situ Manment of Crop Residue in State of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh & NCT of Delhi’ was launched with a total outgo of Rs 1151.80 Crores for period from 2018-19 to 2019-20 by Government of India to tackle air pollution and to subsidize machinery required for in-situ manment of crop residue in States of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and NCT of Delhi.” Within one year of its implementation utilizing an amount of Rs 500 crores, happy seeder / zero till techlogy was adopted in 8 lakh hectares of land in rth-Western States of India, and under scheme, financial assistance at 50% of cost is provided to farmers for purchase of in-situ crop residue manment machines on individual ownership basis.” financial assistance for establishment of Custom Hiring Centers for in-situ crop residue manment machinery is at 80% of project cost. 

  READ | 'We Are Helpless', Says Punjab Farmers On Stubble Burning

During 2018-19, funds amounting to Rs 269.38 crores, Rs 137.84 crores and Rs 148.60 crores have been released to Governments of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh respectively, for distribution of in-situ crop residue manment machinery to farmers on subsidy, establishment of Custom Hiring Centers (CHCs) of in-situ crop residue manment machinery and undertaking Information, Education and Communication (IEC) activities for creating awareness among farmers. During 2019-20, funds amounting to Rs 273.80 crores, Rs 192.06 crores and Rs 105.29 crores have also been released so far to Governments of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, respectively. With this financial assistance, 29,488 machines have been acquired. From se 10379 machines were directly given to farmers and 19109 machines were given to CHCs.

READ | Haryana CM Releases Map Of Stubble Burning Data; Punjab Covered In Red