A New Conversation Is Needed On Farm Fires, Pg12

Key Highlights:

• The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has initiated a crackdown on stubble burning in Punjab.
• Show-cause notices were issued to officials in nine districts, with warnings of personal accountability in 12 districts.
• Crop-residue burning is illegal, attracting fines ranging from Rs 5,000 to Rs 30,000.
• Despite a decline in farm fire incidents over three years, air quality improvement has not been significant.
• The action coincides with the peak stubble-burning season, following Delhi's pollution spike.

CAQM Stubble Burning.jpg

Detailed Insights:

• The CAQM's move comes after Delhi's Environment Minister attributed the capital's recent air pollution surge to Punjab's farm fires.
• Studies indicate a shift in peak stubble burning times, potentially leading to undetected fires by satellites.
• A new CAQM portal aims to integrate satellite evidence with field-level enforcement actions.
• Sustainable progress requires making paddy straw collection and industrial utilization economically viable for farmers.
• Current biomass procurement for industries and in-situ management methods are often costly or offer inadequate returns for farmers.
• Unusual weather, including October rainfall, delayed harvesting this year, shortening the window for wheat sowing.
• Proposed solutions include improving access to machinery, developing local collection networks, and securing reliable buyers for straw.
• Ending the free supply of electricity for irrigation is suggested to reduce paddy acreage and associated emissions.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM): A statutory body responsible for coordinating efforts to improve air quality in the National Capital Region and adjoining areas.
• In-situ crop residue management: The practice of managing crop stubble within the field itself, often by incorporating it into the soil.
• Ex-situ crop residue management: The process of removing crop residue from the field for off-farm uses like industrial raw material or biofuel production.