Lok Sabha Question No. 2712 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-08-01
Subject: Burning of Crop Residue
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: C. MAHENDRAN, J. JAYASINGH THIYAGARAJ NATTERJEE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UN-STARRED QUESTION N0 2712

TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.08.2017

## Burning of Crop Residue

## 2712. SHRI C. MAHENDRAN: SHRI J.J.T. NATTERJEE:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a)   whether incidents of crop residue burning in the North Eastern States of the country have significantly reduced recently;
- (b)  if so, the details thereof;
- (c)   whether the Government has taken note of the ill effects/impact due to the crop residue burning and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d)   whether burning of crop residue is the reason behind the bad air quality in the capital, Delhi recently and if so, the details thereof??

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  FOR  ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## (DR. HARSH VARDHAN)

(a) &  (b)  As  per  the  estimate  published  in  2009  and  2010  the  crop  residue  burned  in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura was 0.04 MT,  0.73  MT,  0.07  MT,  0.05  MT,  0.01  MT,  0.08  MT  and  0.02  MT,  respectively. Conclusive  and  rigorous  data  to  establish  significant  reduction  in  crop  burning  is  not available.

(c) The Government has taken note of the ill effects/impact of crop residue burning in Punjab and  Haryana  and  has  taken  several  steps  to  control  air  pollution  due  to  burning  of  crop residue  which, inter  alia ,  include  finalisation  of  National  Policy  for  Management  of  Crop Residues  in  2014,  which  envisages  adoption  of  technical  measures  and  extending  central financial  assistance;  issuing  advisory  in  multimedia  mode  for  curbing  stubble  burning  in northern States of India; creating awareness amongst farmers; subsidizing cost of agriculture machineries; issuance of notification for banning crop residue burning by  NCR  States and Punjab, regular co-ordination meetings at official and ministerial level in addition to regular meetings by Central Pollution Control Board; issuance of comprehensive directions including control  of  stubble  burning  under  Section  18(1)  (b)  of  Air  (Prevention  and  Control  of Pollution)  Act,  1981,  setting  up  of  bio-mass  power  plants  by  Governments  of  Punjab  and

Haryana; constitution of Centralised Monitoring Committee under chairmanship of Secretary (EF&CC) for periodic review of the matter etc.

(d)  A number of factors contribute to air pollution including pollution from various sources, metrological  conditions,  land  use  pattern,  nature  of  activities  etc.  Burning  of  crop  residue may  lead  to  increase  in  air  pollution  in  the  local  and  adjoining  areas,  particularly  during adverse  meteorological  conditions  like  low  temperature,  poor  wind  speed  and  low  mixing height.  As per the Report of IIT, Kanpur, crop residue burning and other biomass emissions may be transported to Delhi from the sources upwind of Delhi.

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