SALIENT OBSERVATIONS

  • At present large volumes of wastes are being burnt in the agriculture fields despite ban on crop residue burning. Crop residue burning is identified as a major source of degradation of Air Quality in Delhi and NCR during October- Nov and April-May each year. Every year Punjab rice farms collectively burn about 44 to 51 metric tonnes of left over plant debris during Oct-Nov.
  • AQI has been seen to shoot up to saturation level of measuring instruments during crop burning in Delhi and NCR region in October-November and also in April-May each year.

AUH PANEL RECOMMENDS

  • Establish Rural Industries and Startups to promote usage of Crop Residue as Fodder for Animals, Bedding Material for Cattle, Making Bio-fertilizer, Paper and card board Production, Making Producer Gas, Making Mud Bricks as Composite Material, and Making Briquettes as fuel for use in Chulas (mud stoves) in rural areas.
  • Devise a system of purchasing the crop residue from farmers such as by establishing Rural Biomass (Crop Residue, Cow dung, Green Waste etc) Corporation to promote Bio-parks that shall house Startups and local area-based Innovation Incubators.

TIME FRAME

Reduce crop residue burning 60% by 2022 and 100% by 2024.

AGENCY RESPONSIBLE

• Enforcement Agencies
• Department of Agriculture
• Department of Renewable Energy