Economic Survey suggests stiff penalty for crop burning

New Delhi: The Economic Survey tabled in Parliament on Monday stated that heavy penalties should be imposed for burning agricultural waste and more incentive for farmers is needed in a bid to prevent poor air quality in Delhi-NCR.

“The farmers mainly from North Indian states set their paddy fields on fire after harvesting. The resultant smoke, however, gets carried by winds all the way to the capital and beyond, adding to the existing suspended particulate matter (SPM) and noxious substances that clog lungs and leave behind a near eclipsed sun,” the survey tabled in Parliament said.  

Citing various reports according to which Delhi accounts for one of the unhealthiest cities in the world in terms of air pollution, the survey stated that effective action suggested by the National Green Tribunal, the Supreme Court and other agencies call for strict enforcement through heavy penalties on agricultural waste burning and incentive payments to farmers.

The survey noted that some 35 million tonne (MT) of paddy in three states of Punjab, Haryana and Western Uttar Pradesh are burnt in late October, whose plumes drift eastward, and seasonal load from other sources, including fire crackers during Diwali are top reasons for the capital’s poor air quality.

Besides, vehicular emissions add 23 to 28 per cent from trucks, buses, cars, three-wheelers and two-wheelers.

Among other measures, implementation of congestion pricing, expansion of public buses, phasing out of old vehicles as also coordination across agencies and governments were also mentioned, which can prevent the city turning into a gas chamber, especially during the winters.

Diesel particulates have higher share in the vehicular category and were especially dangerous, the survey said.

It added that dust particles from construction activity, concentrated in and neighbouring National Capital Region (NCR) areas add further pollution, which gets compounded by power plants and industrial pollution.

Suggesting ways to curb air pollution, the survey called for use of technologies to convert agricultural waste into usable concentrated fodder or bio-fuels, development and implementation of business models with private sector and incentives for shifting to non-paddy crops, among others.