Lok Sabha Question No. 1622 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-02-13
Subject: Waste generated from Paddy Plants
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Manoj Kishorbhai Kotak, Raksha Nikhil Khadse, Mohammad Jawed

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1622

TO BE ANSWERED ON 13.02.2023

## Waste generated from Paddy Plants

## 1622.   SHRI MANOJ KOTAK: SHRIMATI RAKSHA NIKHIL KHADSE DR. MOHAMMAD JAWED

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

- (a) whether the Central Pollution Control Board under the Ministry has any proposal for the establishment of Pelletisation and Torrefaction Plants to treat waste generated from paddy plants to use it as biomass fuel to reduce and control the air pollution created by burning of these raw-waste generated from paddy crops in Punjab and Haryana States and if so, the details of the scheme thereof;
- (b) whether this Scheme is applicable for the other parts of the country also where the paddy crops are grown and if so, the details of the projects registered/applied under this Scheme so far;
- (c) whether the Government has taken cognizance of the concerns raised by beneficiaries of the  Paddy  Pellet  Scheme  that  the  financial  incentives  under  the  same  do  not  cover production costs;
- (d) whether the Government had held consultations with manufacturers and other stakeholders before the introduction of the Scheme and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (e) whether the Government intends to expand the scheme to other crops beyond paddy; and
- (f) the data of instances of stubble burning per year since 2014, State-wise?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE

(SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

(a) to (f)

Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)has issued guidelines for grant of one-time financial support under Environment Protection Charge (EPC) Funds for establishment of pelletisation and torrefaction plants to promote utilisation of paddy straw in Delhi/NCR.

Guidelines were prepared for paddy straw based pellet plants considering the issue of paddy straw  burning  that  takes  place  in  northern  India,  which  is  one  of  the  factorsadversely impacting air quality in Delhi and NCR.

As per the guidelines, a maximum amount of Rs. 14 lakhs per ton plant production capacity per hour, towards capital cost of plant and machinery as one-time financial support by CPCB, subject to a total financial support of Rs. 70 lakhs per proposal in case of pelletisation plant. In  case  of  torrefaction  plant,  a  maximum  amount  of  Rs.  28  lakhs  per ton  plant  production capacity  per  hour,  shall  be  paid  as  one-time  financial  support  by  CPCB,  subject  to  a  total financial support of Rs. 1.4 crore per proposal.

Another scheme has been launched by MNRE for the whole country and other crop residues. Assistance is  given  uptoRs.9  Lakhs  for  one  TPH  (Ton  per  hour)  capacity  of  non-torrefied palletisation, limited to Rs. 45 lakhs per unit.

The  cost  proposed  in  draft  guidelines  was  based  on  discussions  and  information  obtained from market players which were further shared with concerned central ministries and other stakeholders for comments especially on the aspect of funding.

Total of 314661, 30446, 23, 4374 and 22756 cases of stubble burning were reported for the period 1 st October till 30 th November, from 2018 till 2022 in the States of Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh respectively.

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