Lok Sabha Question No. 1684 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-08
Subject: Burning of Paddy Straw
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: OM BIRLA

## 1684. SHRI OM BIRLA:

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

- (a)   whether  the  burning  of  paddy  straws  in  States  like  Punjab,  Haryana  have  an  impact  on pollution in other States like Rajasthan, NCT of Delhi among others;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  the steps taken by the Central Pollution Control Board and the National Green Tribunal to curb the pollution caused by burning of paddy straws; and
- (d)   whether  there  are  punishments  or  fines  for  burning  straws  in  the  country  and  if  so,  the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

(a) & (b) Burning of paddy straw / agriculture waste impacts air quality in the vicinity, be it city,  town  or  village.    However,  movement  of  plume  of  fine  particles  or  various  gaseous pollutants  from  agriculture  waste  burning  depends  upon  meteorological  factors  such  as,  wind speed, wind direction, mixing height, humidity, etc.  There is no conclusive study available that burning of paddy straw / crop residue in the States like Punjab and Haryana would always impact quality of air in the States/UT like Rajasthan, Delhi etc.

(c) Steps taken to curb the the pollution caused by burning of paddy straw include:

- (i) Direction by Hon'ble National Green Tribunal, Principal Bench, New  Delhi to Governments  of  National  Capital  Territory  of  Delhi,  Punjab,  Haryana,  Rajasthan  and Uttar Pradesh to prevent stubble burning which is a banned activity.
- (ii) Writing to State/UT Governments by Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC)  to  issue  advisory  in  multimedia  mode  for  curbing  stubble  burning  in northern States of India.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION N0. 1684

TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.03.2016

## Burning of Paddy Straw

- (iii) Organising  workshop  by  MoEF&CC/Central  Pollution  Control  Board  (CPCB)  in collaboration  with  Punjab  Pollution  Control  Board  and  Government  of  Punjab  on 'Agriculture Stubble Burning - Issues & Options' on 8 th January 2015 at Chandigarh and circulating recommendations to States concerned.
- (iv) Subsidizing  farmers  @  50%  of  the  cost  of  agriculture  machineries  such  as  Gyrorake, Baler, Chopper Shredder, Rotavator, Happy Seeder, Zero Till Drill etc. during the year 2013-14 and 2014-15 in Punjab.
- (v) Issuing Notifications under Section 19 (5) of the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act,  1981  by  Government  of  Punjab,  Govt.  of  Haryana  and  Government  of  Rajasthan prohibiting or restricting the open burning of straw.
- (vi) Issuing  directions  under  Section  18  (1)  (b)  of  the  Air  (Prevention  and  Control  of Pollution)  Act,  1981  by  CPCB to the State Pollution Control Boards/Pollution Control Committees of Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana and Delhi for abatement of air pollution and improvement of ambient air quality in Delhi and National Capital Region (NCR)  including  directions  for  ensuring  strict  enforcement  of  ban  on  burning  of agricultural waste and crop residue.
- (vii) Conducting regular co-ordination meetings at official and ministerial level with Government of NCT of Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.

Government of Punjab has reported, based on remote sensing studies, a 38.93% reduction in the paddy residue burning in the year 2015.  Punjab Government is using 19% of paddy straw for energy  production.    7  bio-mass  based  power  plants  have  been  set  up  and  5  bio-refineries  are using paddy straw as feedstock in Punjab.  Government of Haryana has reported a decrease in paddy straw burning during 2014-15 from 20.3% to 17.0% as compared with data of 2013-14.

(d) The violation of afore-said directions issued by CPCB under the Air (Prevention and Control of  Pollution)  Act,  1981  shall  be  punishable  under  the  said  Act  with  imprisonment  for  a  term which may extend to three months or with fine which may extend to ten thousand rupees or both and  in  case  of  continuing  contraventions,  with  an  additional  fine  which  may  extend  to  five thousand rupees for every day during such contravention continues after conviction for the first such contravention. Hon'ble National Green Tribunal has also ordered fine of ₹ 2,500 to ₹ 15,000 on farmers indulged in straw burning.

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