New Delhi: The Centre has spent Rs 3,623.45 crore for crop residue management in Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh since 2018 and of this amount, Punjab received the largest share of Rs 1,681.45 crore, Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Kirti Vardhan Singh, stated in the Lok Sabha.
The funds have been utilised to subsidise crop residue management machinery and establish custom hiring centres (CHCs) to combat stubble burning and encourage sustainable practices, the minister told the Lower House on Monday.
More than 3 lakh machines have been distributed, which include 4,500 balers and rakes for collecting paddy straw for ex-situ utilisation, he said. Haryana received Rs 1,081.71 crore, Uttar Pradesh was allocated Rs 763.67 crore, the NCT of Delhi got Rs 6.05 crore, and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) was given Rs 83.35 crore.
In-situ management of paddy straw
The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare rolled out a scheme in 2018 with the aim to support the purchase of crop residue management machinery and setting up of CHCs in NCT of Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, and UP for in-situ management of paddy straw. In 2023, the ministry updated the scheme’s guidelines to strengthen backing for setting up of a crop residue/paddy straw supply chain, extending financial aid for the capital costs of machinery and equipment.
In partnership with state authorities and important stakeholders, including UP, Punjab, Haryana, UP, NCT of Delhi, and Rajasthan along with Isro, the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) and ICAR, the government has initiated a detailed action plan to tackle the problem of crop residue burning.
The government has given crop residue management (CRM) machinery to manage crop residues directly in the fields. Besides, the government has introduced high-yielding, short-duration paddy varieties as replacements for PUSA-44.
The government has also made it compulsory to use Super Straw Management Systems (SMS) with combine harvesters, which chop and evenly distribute the straw across the fields, doing away with the need for burning. Also, the use of bio-decomposers developed by IARI is encouraged to naturally break down paddy straw, turning it into fertiliser.
On the ex-situ front
Regarding ex-situ, the government is concentrating on alternative methods to manage and use paddy straw. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has strongly and effectively made revision in the action plan to stop crop residue burning.
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has spelt out guidelines under the Environment Protection Charge, providing financial backing for setting up of pelletisation and torrefaction plants, which will help in turning paddy straw into valuable products.
The government has committed up to Rs 1.4 crore for pelletisation plants and up to Rs 2.8 crore for torrefaction plants, based on the plant’s capacity. Till now, 17 applications for such plants have been given nod, with 15 of them expected to process up to 2.70 lakh tonnes of paddy straw every year.
Punjab received the largest share of Rs 1,681.45 crore while Haryana Rs 1,081.71 crore. Uttar Pradesh was allocated Rs 763.67 crore, the NCT of Delhi got Rs 6.05 crore, and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) was given Rs 83.35 crore. Business Business News – Personal Finance News, Share Market News, BSE/NSE News, Stock Exchange News Today
