Lok Sabha Question No. 896 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-02-07
Subject: Burning of Farm Residues
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: ASHOK SHANKARRAO CHAVAN, VIJAY KUMAR S.R., SUDHEER GUPTA, KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH, BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO, SUNIL BALIRAM GAIKWAD, T. RADHAKRISHNAN, GAJANAN CHANDRAKANT KIRTIKAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, COOPERATION AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.896

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE  7 TH  FEBRUARY, 2017

## BURNING OF FARM RESIDUES

896.   SHRI ASHOK SHANKARRAO CHAVAN:

SHRI S.R. VIJAYAKUMAR:

SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA:

KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH:

SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO:

DR. SUNIL BALIRAM GAIKWAD:

SHRI T. RADHAKRISHNAN:

SHRI GAJANAN KIRTIKAR:

Will  the  Minister  of  AGRICULTURE  AND  FARMERS  WELFARE      ‡ãðŠãäÓã एवं  कसान कयाण ½ãâ¨ããè

be pleased to state:

- (a) whether a recent study of the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Mohali shows that burning of post harvest farm residues in certain parts of the country contribute to increased concentrations of crop-damaging surface ozone;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the response of the Government thereto;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  directed  States  to  check  the  practice  of  burning farm residues in the field and if so, the details thereof and the response of the States thereto;
- (d) the steps taken by the Government to develop cheaper and effective technology for scientific disposal of the farm residues and popularize it amongst the farmers; and
- (e) the  other  corrective  measures  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  in  this regard?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF  STATE IN THE  MINISTRY OF  AGRICULTURE AND  FARMERS  WELFARE

‡ãðŠãäÓã एवं  कसान  कयाण ½ãâ¨ããÊã¾ã  ½ãñâ  Àã·¾ã  ½ãâ¨ããè (SHRI  S.S. AHLUWALIA)

- (a) to (e): As per information received from Indian Institute of Science Education and Research  (IISER),  Mohali,  the  institute  has  conducted  a  study  from  August  2011  to September 2013 shows that burning of post harvest farm residues in the North West Indo-Gangetic  Plain  contributes  to  increased  concentrations  of  surface  ozone.  The scientists  of  institute  have  also  published  their  paper  in  Journal  of  Geophysical Research: Atmospheres in 2016.

Government of India has circulated a 'National Policy for Management of Crop Residues  (NPMCR)'  in  2014  to  all  states/UTs  of  the  country.  Besides,  Ministry  of Environment,  Forest  &  Climate  Change  (MoEF&CC)  has  also  issued  advisory  in multimedia mode for curbing stubble burning in northern states of India.

The  states  like  Haryana,  Punjab  and  Uttar  Pradesh  are  promoting  the  farm machinery and implements such as baler, rice straw chopper, rotavator, happy seeder, zero  till  seed  drill  etc  for  the  management  of  crop  residues.  Punjab  Pollution  Control Board and Haryana Pollution Control Board have issued advisories to farmers through electronic media and print media not to burn the residue stalks as it results in the loss of nutrients  required  for  the  fertility  of  the  soil.  Governments  of  Punjab,  Haryana  and Rajasthan also issued notifications under Section 19 (5) of the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 for prohibiting or restricting the open burning of straw.

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