Lok Sabha Question No. 826 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-14
Subject: Air Pollution due to Stubble Burning
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: T.G. VENKATESH BABU, DINESH TRIVEDI, POONAM  MAHAJAN, OM BIRLA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UN-STARRED QUESTION N0. 826

TO BE ANSWERED ON 14.12.2018

## Air Pollution due to Stubble Burning

## 826. SHRI VENKATESH BABU T.G.:

SHRI DINESH TRIVEDI:

SHRIMATI POONAM MAHAJAN:

SHRI OM BIRLA:

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

- (a) whether stubble burning in Northern States is a major source of air pollution in Delhi and National Capital Region (NCR) in winter season, if so, the details thereof and the steps being taken to mitigate air pollution caused due to stubble burning;
- (b) whether the Union Government has allocated funds to discourage stubble burning and improve air quality in the country including Delhi and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government proposed a special scheme to support the efforts of the State Governments to address the problem of air pollution due to burning of crop residues and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether  satellite-based  monitoring  for  tracking  and  enforcing  agriculture  waste burning is being undertaken by the Government, if so, the details thereof along with the alternate mechanism envisaged for crop residue disposal and increasing awareness among farmers in this regard;
- (e) whether the Government has also taken note of the fact that weak enforcement of the statutory ban by States close to Delhi on stubble burning coupled with laxity towards the sensitivity and gravity of the matter has also adversely affected the ongoing efforts to tackle the issue of air pollution in Delhi and NCR; and
- (f) if so, the steps that have been taken by the Government to ensure that the laid down guidelines and statutory provisions are implemented in letter and spirit?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

(a) to  (c)  Stubble  burning  in  Northern  States  contributes  to  air  pollution  in  Delhi  and NCR in winter season as per the report of Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology(IITM),Pune, Ministry of Earth Sciences. System of Air Quality &Weather Forecasting & Research (SAFAR)-has analysed the contribution of stubble burning in the total PM2.5 for the kharif season of this year. This estimated % share of stubble burning in  PM2.5 reached to a high of 36% on 26 th October,  2018  and  33%  on  5 th November, 2018.

To stop burning of crop residue that leads to higher level of air pollution in Delhi and NCR especially during adverse meteorological conditions in early winter in North India, the Central Government has introduced 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' for the period from 2018-19 and 2019-20 with an outlay of Rs. 1151.80 crore.  This year's allocation of Central funds is Rs. 591.65 crore.

- (d) Satellite-based tracking of Active Fire Incidents due to stubble burning has been done by  State  Governments  and  remote  sensing  institutes.  Daily  tracking  of  active  fire events in Punjab and Haryana is done on the basis of reports sent by Remote Sensing Institutes/Organisations.  In  Punjab,  active  fire  events  reported  till  30th  November 2018 are 59695 (11% reduction) compared with 67079 in 2017 for respective period (30th Sep-30th Nov). And in Haryana, 9232 (29 % reduction) active fire events have been reported till 30th November 2018 from 30th Sep 2018 and for the same period 13085 events were reported in 2017.

Ministry  of  Power  has  brought  out  the  policy  for  Biomass  Utilization  for Power Generation through Co-firing in Pulverised Coal Fired Boilers in November, 2017. As per thepolicy, all fluidized bed and pulverized coal units (coal based thermal power plants) except those having ball and tube  mill, of power  generating utilities, public  or  private,  located  in  India,  shall  endeavour  to  use  5-10%  blend  of  biomass pellets made, primarily, of agri residue along with coal after assessing the technical feasibility,  viz.  safety  aspects  etc.      In  line  with  the  policy,  Central  Electricity Authority has issued an  Advisory to  all concerned State Governments, power plant utilities,  power  equipment  manufacturers  and  other  stake holders  to  promote  use  of biomass pellets.

Information,  Education  and  Communication  (IEC)  activities  under  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'have  been  conducted  involving  demonstrations,  training,  farmers'  awareness camps,  distribution  of  pamphlets,  display  of  hoardings  and  banners,  radio  talks, discussion on T.V. and advertisement in print and electronic media.

- (e) & (f) The satellite remote sensing data on crop residue burning is shared with State Governments.  The  progress  is  regularly  monitored  by  the  High  level  Monitoring Committee under the chairmanship of Secretary, Department of Agriculture, Research and Education and DG (Indian Council of Agricultural Research). Further, directions have been given to agriculture departments and State Pollution Boards of Delhi and NCR States along with Punjab for strict enforcement and ban on stubble burning.

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