Lok Sabha Question No. 1461 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-09
Subject: Pollution from Agriculture
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Ms Iqra Choudhary

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1461

TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.02.2026

## Pollution from Agriculture

1461.  MS IQRA CHOUDHARY:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  set  up  Continuous  Ambient  Air  Quality  Monitoring Stations  (CAAQMS)  in  the  area  to  monitor  air  pollution  caused  by  agricultural  machinery industries in Shamli;
- (b) whether  there  is  any  plan  to  provide  special  incentives  to  sugarcane  farmers  for  in-situ management to prevent them from burning agricultural residue;
- (c) whether the Government has fixed any specific afforestation target to check soil erosion in the Yamuna river basin, if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) whether the Government proposes to provide additional grants to local bodies for developing green belts in the industrial areas of Kerana Parliamentary Constituency?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

- (a): One manual ambient air quality monitoring station is operational to collect air quality data of Shamli city. In addition, one Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Station (CAAQMS) has been procured by Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) for installation in Shamli city.

(b): To address air pollution due to paddy stubble burning , Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare  (DA&FW)  has  launched  Crop  Residue  Management  (CRM)  Scheme  where  in  financial assistance  at  50%  of  the  cost  of  the  machinery  is  provided  to  farmers  for  procurement  of  CRM machines on individual ownership basis, and financial assistance at 80% of the project cost for the project costing up to Rs. 30 Lakhs is provided for establishment of Custom Hiring Centres of CRM machinery by Rural Entrepreneurs, Cooperative Societies, DAY-NRLM Cluster Level Federations and Self Help Groups (SHGs), Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) and Panchayats.

During the period from 2018-19 to 2025-26 (as on 20.01.2026), Rs. 4173.84 crores have been released (Punjab-Rs. 2026.45 crores, Haryana- Rs. 1156.71 crores, Uttar Pradesh- Rs. 838.67 crores, Madhya Pradesh- Rs. 45.00 crores, NCT of Delhi- Rs. 6.05 crores, ICAR- Rs. 93.235 crores and others Rs. 7.7205  crores)  by  the  Ministry  of  Agriculture  and  Family  Welfare  (MoAFW).  The  States  have distributed more than 3.50 lakh machines to the individual famers and established more than 43,415

Custom Hiring Centres (CHC) in the States. Further, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) provides one-time financial support for establishment of pelletization and Torrefaction plants to promote in-situ management. An amount of Rs. 15.58 crore has been released for 25 plants with capacity of 104.5 Tons per Hour (TPH) and these plants are expected to utilize 4.83 lakh tonnes paddy straw annually

Further, as informed by Government of Uttar Pradesh, farm machinery banks have been set up for in situ management of sugarcane crop residue in Shamli. Trash mulcher and Ratoon management devices are available in these banks for mulching of sugarcane leaf residue to enrich organic matter in the soil and to stop burning of the residue. A total of 1,637 trash mulchers and 1,551 ratoon management devices are available with the farm machinery banks, sugarcane mills and farmers of Shamli.

(c): MoEF&CC and Ministry of Jal Shakti jointly released the Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) on rejuvenation  of  13  major  rivers  including  Yamuna  River  through  Forestry  Interventions  and convergence  of  schemes  of  other  line  departments  in  the  states  and  funding  support  from  the Government of India. So far, 1311.74 sq. km area of Yamuna River basin has been treated under natural landscape, afforestation and soil and moisture conservation.

In addition, till  2024-25, afforestation and plantation activities were undertaken along the Yamuna Flood Plains under the jurisdiction of the Central Forest Division, Govt. of NCT of Delhi. A total of 3,11,203 saplings were planted over an area of 271.248 hectares.

Further, Delhi Development Authority (DDA) have planted more than 7 lakh trees and 100lakh (1 crore) grass saplings, conducive to floodplain ecology (trees and grasses of native varieties).

(d): Under Viksit Bharat- Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Act, 2025, afforestation and plantation works linked with soil and moisture conservation can be taken up through Gram Panchayats.

Under AMRUT Scheme of Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, 17 green spaces and parks with an area of 8.01 acres worth Rs.4.76 crore have been developed in Kairana Parliamentary constituency.

Further, Red and Orange category industries in industrial estates/areas have been mandated to develop green belt as per the guidelines prescribed by MoEF&CC vide dated 29.10.2025.

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