Why Punjab alone can’t be blamed for stubble burning

Come October and there is an outcry over the ensuing paddy-straw burning and the consequent air pollution in the national capital region (NCR) and its adjoining areas. Paradoxically, it has been a usual phenomenon for the past couple of years. Earlier, only Punjab used to be blamed for polluting the NCR’s air quality. It was conveniently forgotten that the Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Act, 2021, mandates the commission to monitor and manage the air quality in NCR besides Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.

However, the CAQM has failed to carry out its mandate as is clear from the rapping it received by the Supreme Court on September 27, 2024. The SC Bench comprising Justice Abhay S Oka and Justice Augustine George Masih said, “Not a single committee has been formed to tackle the issue. Every year, we witness stubble burning, indicating total non-compliance of the CAQM Act.” The Bench further said that the CAQM has been merely a silent spectator. Such an observation by the top court is a serious reflection on politico-bureaucratic will and vision regarding policymaking and implementation thereof.

Significantly, this year, Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has also taken a serious note of the recurring phenomenon of stubble burning. Principal Secretary to PM, PK Mishra, while chairing a high-level meeting of task force on air pollution, asked the Delhi-NCR and the states of Punjab, Haryana and UP to implement the anti-stubble burning plans as committed.

According to CAQM chairman Rajesh Verma, over 1.5 lakh crop residue management (CRM) machines will be available in Punjab and 90,945 in Haryana. It is learnt that ever since 2018, when the Central Government started providing subsidy to purchase CRM machines, Punjab has been supplied 1,38,022 machines between 2018 and 2023. The target is to provide 36,020 additional machines in 2024.

These machines are aimed at in-situ incorporation of the paddy straw. Punjab generated 19.52 million metric tonnes (MMT) of paddy straw while Haryana produced 8.10 MMT, out of which a lion’s share is to be managed by in-situ incorporation as per the target. The past experience, however, shows otherwise.

The fundamental question is that why has there been no satisfactory solution to paddy-straw burning and the consequent air pollution? Apparently, deep-rooted reasons behind the problem, knowingly or unknowingly, are not being addressed by the powers that be. It is being alleged that the in-situ incorporation of the paddy straw is mainly being enforced under the pressure of the machinery and fertiliser lobbies, though agricultural scientists and the government are arguing that it is necessary for maintaining soil fertility. Why, do then, farmers prefer to burn crop residue over the in-situ incorporation, knowing fully well its ill-effects on the soil as well as human health? Is it due to additional cost-component and the small-window period between the paddy harvesting and wheat sowing, as is being argued by the farmers?

Scientists and economists also argue that production of compressed biogas (CBG) from crop residue and solid waste can be a game changer, as it would translate waste into wealth. Besides addressing the air pollution, it would also generate enormous amount of renewable clean-energy as well as employment and income for the farmers and the government in the form of GST. Its by-product, namely bio-manure, would meet the organic matter need of the soil, besides lowering the use of chemical fertilisers. Significantly, a number of countries, especially Scandinavian countries, are already using such energy in the transportation sector.

Generating hydrogen energy from crop and solid waste is another potent alternative. The developed countries are already investing heavily in hydrogen technology and infrastructure, and many of them have set huge targets to produce hydrogen as a source of energy. Japan has already taken a lead in it.

The launch of the National Hydrogen Mission by India in 2023 is an indicator that hydrogen will become a major future source of energy in the face of limited stocks of conventional sources. There may be a number of other options, including biomass pellets, which can convert agricultural and solid waste into renewable energy, besides being environment-friendly and an alternative to the fossil fuel.

There is, thus, a need to have an informed public and scientific discourse on all available options of using agricultural and solid waste, which could be sustainable and environmentally friendly. This will also be in tune with the UN-2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

Such a discourse is, however, missing and hence there is no comprehensive policy to use crop residue and solid waste as a source of energy as well as addressing environmental issues. Such an approach would also help the policy makers and the government to understand the phenomenon better and provide practical solutions.

The farmers’ unions, too, must come forward with their genuine concerns and viable solutions rather than stubbornly supporting stubble burning and opposing alternative uses of crop residue. Scientists, policy-makers and the government must engage with farmer leaders to address their apprehensions and perceptions about the ill effects of alternative uses of agri-stubble and come out with mutually acceptable solutions.

The national and state agriculture policies then must include these agreed upon solutions. Such an approach would help in the effective implementation of the policy. The SC Bench might be having such a policy approach in mind while advising the CAQM for formulating the relevant committees to understand the issue in its entirety and come out with viable policies and a roadmap.

It needs to be understood that management of crop residue and solid waste is not an option but a necessary choice as currently it is causing a huge burden on environment, health, law and order and judicial system. Besides, it is demonising the farmers which could have serious politico-economic implications. All this necessitates a comprehensive, cost-benefit analysis of the existing machine-based CRM and all other available options keeping in mind the huge financial burden.