Complete Elimination of Stubble Burning

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has issued a 19-point directive targeting the complete elimination of stubble burning in Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh.

About Stubble Burning

• Definition: Stubble Burning involves setting fire to the crop residue (straw stubble) left after harvesting rice and wheat.
  • Farmers use this method to quickly prepare the field for the next crop cycle.
• Reasons For Stubble Burning: It is a cost-effective and fast way to clear fields.
  • Helps in controlling pests.
• Environmental Consequences: Releases large amounts of smoke and particulate matter into the air.
  • Major contributor to air pollution, especially in northern India.
    • It has been estimated that the burning of one tonne of paddy straw releases 3 kg particulate matter, 60 kg CO, 1460 kg CO2, 199 kg ash and 2 kg SO2.
  • Causes loss of soil nutrients and organic matter as well as physical health deterioration to the soil, reducing long-term fertility.
• Health Hazards: The smoke causes respiratory and cardiovascular issues.
• • Vulnerable groups like children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing conditions are most at risk.

About the Directives issued by the Commission For Air Quality Management

• Parali Protection Force and Enforcement: Form a dedicated Parali Protection Force at the district/block level”.
  • The Parali Protection Force — made up of police, agriculture, and civic officers — is to “closely monitor, oversee and guard” against stubble burning incidents.

• • Enforce intensified evening patrols to prevent nighttime burning and evasion of satellite monitoring. 
  • Penalise violations with “red entries” in land records and environmental compensation fines.
• Farm Mapping and Officer Tagging: Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh must map every farm in each village and
  • Tag a nodal officer to oversee no more than 50 farmers per district.
• Machinery Review and Procurement: Conduct a comprehensive review and gap analysis of existing crop-residue-management (CRM) machines. 
  • Complete procurement of new CRM machines by August 2025.
• CRM Machine Access for Farmers: Ensure free rental of CRM machines for small and marginal farmers through agri-cooperative or government-run centres. 
  • Guarantee optimal machine availability aligned with the harvesting schedule.
• Tech-Driven Implementation: Develop IT tools for real-time planning, booking, and utilisation of machines.
  • Establish an online platform for real-time crop residue data and monitoring.
• Straw Storage and Supply Chain: Create district-level supply-chain plans. 
  • Identify government/panchayat lands for storing straw bales. 
  • Use balers, rakers, and other tools for ex-situ residue management.
• Economic Incentives: Fix a common procurement price for paddy straw in Punjab and Uttar Pradesh to incentivize straw collection and reuse.
• Industrial Utilisation of Paddy Straw: Set up a pilot paddy straw-based boiler to generate steam in industrial units. 
  • Promote the use of paddy straw pellets in brick kilns, similar to their use in thermal power plants (TPPs).
• Citizen Engagement and Monitoring: Encourage citizens to report stubble burning incidents via social media platforms. 
  • Promote government schemes supporting ex-situ straw management.
• Supreme Court Oversight: States must form committees to monitor implementation. Submit monthly reports to CAQM beginning June 2025, as per Supreme Court directions.