The Supreme Court of India has suggested prosecuting farmers engaged in stubble burning to prepare fields for rabi crops.

• Stubble burning is a major contributor to air pollution in Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, especially during October–November.

About Stubble Burning

• Definition: Stubble burning refers to the practice of setting fire to crop residues left after harvesting paddy (rice), a Kharif crop, to quickly clear fields for wheat (a Rabi crop).
• Regional Concentration: It is concentrated in Punjab, Haryana, and Western Uttar Pradesh, where mechanised harvesting leaves behind stubble that farmers find costly to manage otherwise.

Why Farmers Burn Stubble?

• Short Sowing Window: There is only a 10–20 day gap between paddy harvesting (October–November) and wheat sowing, forcing farmers to adopt quick clearance methods.
• Residue left by Machines: Combine harvesters cut paddy from the top, leaving behind roots and stubble that hinder wheat sowing.
• Economic Constraints: Alternatives like Happy Seeders, balers, and decomposers are not accessible or affordable for many small farmers.
• Perception of Necessity: Burning is seen as the fastest, cheapest, and most reliable solution, despite its ecological consequences.

Consequences of Stubble Burning

• Air Pollution: Emits particulate matter (PM 2.5, PM 10) and gases like carbon monoxide, methane, and black carbon, worsening Delhi-NCR smog during winters.
• Health Impacts: Triggers breathing difficulties, asthma, eye irritation, and cardiovascular diseases for millions exposed.
• Soil Degradation: Burns organic matter, nitrogen, and soil microbes, reducing long-term soil fertility and water retention.
• Climate Effects: Contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and regional warming.
• Visibility Hazards: Dense smoke causes road accidents and flight disruptions in northern India.

Reasons for Pollution Spike in Winter

• Wind Direction: Winds usually move the smoke from Punjab and Haryana directly towards the Capital region.
• Wind Speed: The wind speed is very slow, preventing the smoke and pollution from dispersing (spreading out); instead, it collects in one area.
• Temperature Inversion:
  • Normal Situation: Air near the land is typically warm and light, which rises and carries smoke upwards.
  • Winter Situation: The ground cools quickly, causing cold air to settle near the surface. 
    • A layer of warm air sits above this cold air. 
    • This layer of warm air acts like a lid , trapping the smoke and preventing it from moving up and dissipating, causing it to remain close to the ground.

Failure of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM)

• A Statutory Body: The CAQM is a statutory body, established four years ago to coordinate control among neighbouring states (Punjab, Haryana, UP, Rajasthan) and prevent pollution in the Delhi NCR.
• Reasons for CAQM Failure:
  • Political Pressure: The body is not operating independently, bending to political pressure. 
  • Lack of Transparency: The CAQM discovered that the Punjab government was providing false data, but the body failed to disclose this information to the public.
  • Incomplete Picture: The CAQM failed to effectively communicate to the Court that the entire problem is not solely caused by farmers who burn stubble.
    • Other factors, such as emissions from industries and transport, are also major contributors, but the primary focus remains unfairly targeted at farmers.

Way Forward

• In-Situ Management (Inside the Field):
  • Pusa Decomposer: This is a liquid chemical spray. 
    • When used on residual stubble, it decomposes the waste and converts it into manure within 15 to 20 days. The government should promote its use.
  • Happy Seeder/Super Seeder: These machines are designed to sow wheat directly onto the leftover stubble from the previous crop. 
    • The government should provide subsidies for these machines.
• Ex-Situ Management (Outside the Field):
  • Stubble as a Resource: The focus should be on making stubble a resource so that farmers get paid for it and choose to sell it rather than burning it.
  • Bio-mass Energy: Stubble can be used to generate bio-mass energy. Plants for this purpose should be established.
  • Ethanol Production: Ethanol can be produced from stubble. The process for setting up these plants should be accelerated and simplified.
• Governance Solutions:
  • Strong Enforcement: Existing laws must be strongly enforced, ensuring they apply equally to all stakeholders, including farmers and industrialists.
  • Transparency: Bodies like the CAQM must be transparent and publicly expose false data provided by state governments.
  • Political Will: Ultimately, lasting solutions require strong political will, not mere politicking.

Conclusion

While no section of citizens — farmer or industrialist — can be considered to be above the law, creating better incentives, enforcing existing laws and being transparent about what is realistically achievable are more advisable steps than ‘carrot and stick’ approaches.

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