(a) whether incidents of crop residue burning in the North Eastern States of the country have significantly reduced recently;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government has taken note of the ill effects/impact due to the crop residue burning and if so, the details thereof; and
(d) whether burning of crop residue is the reason behind the bad air quality in the capital, Delhi recently and if so, the details thereof??
MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(DR. HARSH VARDHAN)
(a) & (b) As per the estimate published in 2009 and 2010 the crop residue burned in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura was 0.04 MT, 0.73 MT, 0.07 MT, 0.05 MT, 0.01 MT, 0.08 MT and 0.02 MT, respectively. Conclusive and rigorous data to establish significant reduction in crop burning is not available.
(c) The Government has taken note of the ill effects/impact of crop residue burning in Punjab and Haryana and has taken several steps to control air pollution due to burning of crop residue which, inter alia, include finalisation of National Policy for Management of Crop Residues in 2014, which envisages adoption of technical measures and extending central financial assistance; issuing advisory in multimedia mode for curbing stubble burning in northern States of India; creating awareness amongst farmers; subsidizing cost of agriculture machineries; issuance of notification for banning crop residue burning by NCR States and Punjab, regular co-ordination meetings at official and ministerial level in addition to regular meetings by Central Pollution Control Board; issuance of comprehensive directions including control of stubble burning under Section 18(1) (b) of Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, setting up of bio-mass power plants by Governments of Punjab and Haryana; constitution of Centralised Monitoring Committee under chairmanship of Secretary (EF&CC) for periodic review of the matter etc.
(d) A number of factors contribute to air pollution including pollution from various sources, metrological conditions, land use pattern, nature of activities etc. Burning of crop residue may lead to increase in air pollution in the local and adjoining areas, particularly during adverse meteorological conditions like low temperature, poor wind speed and low mixing height. As per the Report of IIT, Kanpur, crop residue burning and other biomass emissions may be transported to Delhi from the sources upwind of Delhi.
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