New Delhi, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday said the government will formulate a plan to stop incidents of stubble burning that affect both the environment and soil health.
Chouhan held a meeting with Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav to discuss the issue of stubble burning and ways to manage crop residues, as part of the government's efforts to manage air quality in Delhi-NCR and adjoining areas.
Stubble burning is one of the reasons for the high level of pollution across Delhi-NCR.
In a social media post, Chouhan said, "We have decided to make a plan, from the time of paddy sowing itself, to prevent incidents of stubble burning."
Paddy sowing for the kharif season is undergoing and the harvesting of crops will be done in September.
Expressing concern, Chouhan pointed out that stubble burning affects the environment because of air pollution and also adversely impacts soil fertility.
Chouhan informed that both the ministries made a presentation on crop residue management and said, "We are going to take several measures."
He said it has been decided to work effectively on all aspects of stubble management through real-time monitoring and special surveillance of hotspot districts.
The government will also showcase model villages that have successfully managed stubble.
It will also promote modern technologies and establish systems for stubble collection and utilisation.
The Centre will also undertake extensive public awareness campaigns to stop stubble burning.
Separately, Yadav posted on social media that he held a detailed review along with the Union Agriculture Minister on in-situ and ex-situ crop residue management, as also on prevention of stubble burning in the context of Air Quality Management in Delhi-NCR and adjoining areas.
"The review focused on ways and means to efficiently and effectively manage and monitor crop residue in a bid to combat air pollution in the Delhi-NCR region," he added.
Officials of the Commission for Air Quality Management, which is a statutory body of the government, were also present during the review meeting.
