Lok Sabha Question No. 600 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-06-25
Subject: Agricultural Waste
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Umesh G. Jadhav

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

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.600

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE  25 TH  JUNE, 2019

## AGRICULTURAL WASTE

600.   DR. UMESH G. JADHAV:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी be pleased to state:

- (a) the amount of agricultural wastes produced in the country during the last three years and the current year;
- (b) whether  it  is  true  that  the  farmers  tend  to  burn  the  agricultural  waste  (e.g.  straw) causing high levels of pollution, if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the measures taken by the Government to address the issue of increasing air pollution levels due to agricultural wastes; and
- (d) whether  the  Government  has  issued  any  guidelines  to  the  State  Pollution  Control Boards  to  monitor  the  local  emission  sources  and  control  the  emission,  if  so,  the  details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी ( SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

- (a): The  Ministry  of  New  and  Renewable  Energy  (MNRE)  has  estimated  that  about  500 million  tons  of  agricultural  and  agro-industrial  residues  are  being  generated  annually  in  the country and about seventy percent of these residues are used as fodder, as fuel for domestic and industrial sectors and for other economic purposes.
- (b): Paddy  Stubble  burning  is  mainly  practiced  in  Indo-gangetic  plains  of  the  States  of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to clear the fields for Rabi Crop sowing. However, as per satellite  data,  overall  about  15%  and  41%  reduction  in  number  of  burning  events  were observed in the year 2018 as compared to that in 2017 and 2016, respectively in these three States.

(c): In 2018, a new Central Sector Scheme on 'Promotion of Agricultural Mechanization for In-Situ  Management of Crop Residue in the States of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and NCT of Delhi' has been launched with the total outgo from the Central funds of Rs. 1151.80 crore.

During  2018-19,  funds  amounting  to  Rs.  269.38  crores,  Rs.137.84  crores  and  Rs. 148.60 crores have been released to the Government of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh respectively for distribution of in-situ crop residue management machinery to the farmers on subsidy, establishment of Custom Hiring Centres (CHCs) of in-situ crop residue management machinery  and  undertaking  Information,  Education  and  Communication  (IEC)  activities  for creating awareness among farmers.

During 2019-20, the funds amounting to Rs. 248.00 crores, Rs.175.00 crores and Rs. 97.54  crores have also been released  so far to the Government of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, respectively.

(d): The Ministry  of  Environment  Forest  and  Climate  Change  has  issued  comprehensive set of directions under section 18 (1) (b) of Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1986 for implementation of 42/31 measures to mitigate air pollution in major cities including Delhi and  NCR  cities  which  comprises  of  control  and  mitigation  measures  related  to  vehicular emissions, re-suspension of road dust and other fugitive emissions, bio-mass/municipal solid waste  burning,  industrial  pollution,  construction  and  demolition  activities,  and  other  general steps. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has also launched a National Clean Air  Program  (NCAP) as a pan India time bound national level strategy to  tackle  the increasing air pollution problem across the country in comprehensive manner.

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