Question : Burning of paddy crop residue

(a) whether the Government is aware of burning of paddy stubble/ crop residue in various States leading to high air pollution level;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) the corrective steps taken/being taken by the Government and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to curb the burning of paddy stubble/crop residue and check the pollution level;
(d) whether NGT appointed committee on Air Pollution has imposed full ban on stubble burn and if so, the details thereof; and
(e) whether the Union Government has issued any direction to the States to implement the direction issued by the NGT panel and if so, the details thereof and the action taken thereon?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

(a)&(b) Burning of Paddy stubble/crop residue in various states can lead to higher level of pollution specially during adverse meteorological conditions. Such episodic rise in pollution was witnessed during 2016 and 2017 in Delhi and NCR.

(c) The corrective steps taken by Central Government, CPCB and SPCB include banning of stubble burning, mass awareness programme, constitution of Task Force to suggest remedial measures for crop residue burning and identification of various options.

(d) The Hon’ble National Green Tribunal in OA 21 of 2014 in the matter of Vardhaman Kaushik Vs UOI ordered banning of agriculture stubble burning on November 04, 2015.

(e) The Union Government has asked the State Government to implement the directions of NGT.

*****