Stubble Burning

Stubble Burning

Why in News?

  •  Air Quality Management (CAQM), fire count from Stubble Burning in Delhi and the NCR (National Capital Region) has recently by 31.5% in 2022 as compared to 2021.

Highlights

  • As compared to 2021, stubble burning decreased in Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh by 30%, 47.60%, and 21.435% respectively in 2022. The fire counts are based on information from NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) Satellites.
  • State governments went for both in-situ and ex-situ management and a special campaign was started to honour the farmers who did not burn stubble.
  • In-Situ Treatment of Stubble: For example, crop residue management by zero-tiller machine and Use of bio-decomposers (e.g., Pusa bio-decomposer).
  • Ex-Situ (off-site) Treatment: For example, Use of rice straw as cattle fodder.
  • About 10 million tonnes of straw had been managed through in-situ management, which is about 25% more than last year in Punjab.
  • Similarly, 1.8 million tonnes of straw had been managed through the ex-situ method, which is more than 33% over the previous year.
  • Punjab had chalked out an action plan for three years, which has been shared with the central government.
  • Stubble (parali) burning is a method of removing paddy crop residues from the field to sow wheat from the last week of September to November, coinciding with the withdrawal of southwest monsoon.
  • Stubble burning is a process of setting on fire the straw stubble, left after the harvesting of grains, like paddy, wheat, etc. It is usually required in areas that use the combined harvesting method which leaves crop residue behind.
  • It Is a common practice in October and November across North West India, but primarily in Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh.
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