Farm Fires Will Be Put Out by Bio-Decomposer, Green Crackers for Diwali, Says Bhupender Yadav in News18 Interview

  • Nov. 5, 2022, 11:31 a.m.

One of the top priorities of the government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been the nagging issue of climate change. As union environment minister Bhupender Yadav heads for the COP27 summit in Egypt’s Sharm El Sheikh, in an e-mail interview, he shared India’s plans and priorities with News18.com. At the climate summit, India will insist on action and a clear framework, especially from developed countries.

But this trip and stand by India come even as the national capital region (NCR) is in the grip of severe air pollution, with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-run Punjab and Delhi governments pushing the blame towards the center. The most nagging issue is stubble burning. The minister told News18.com about the steps that can be taken to control this and how India must now look at environment-friendly steps and alternatives to plastics. Edited excerpts:

There has been much debate and discussion on how much stubble burning contributes to pollution. The Punjab government says it’s tough to overrule the concerns of the farmers. What do you have to say?

Emissions from crop residue burning in Punjab and Haryana adversely affect Delhi's pollution. Vehicles (exhaust and re-suspended dust), C&D, and fugitive emissions from industries, including crop residue burning, contribute to the poor air quality in Delhi.

With respect to the prevention and control of paddy stubble burning:

(i) MoEF&CC, in coordination with CAQM, has finalised a policy to curb the air pollution menace occurring every year in Delhi and the National Capital Region.

(ii) The policy contains sector-wise recommendations to prevent, control, and abate air pollution in the NCR, including crop residue burning.

(iii) The said policy with timelines has been sent to the NCR states, including Punjab, for implementation.

(iv) Based on the framework issued in 2021 and learnings from gaps and deficiencies observed during the last paddy harvest season, the detailed plan for paddy harvest season 2022 has been updated or revised by the states of Haryana, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh.

(v) These states have submitted preparatory actions for implementation of their respective plans of action for prevention and control of paddy stubble burning.

(vi) CAQM has reviewed the action plan for Punjab with the chief secretary, Punjab, and ACS (Agriculture), Punjab.

(vii) CAQM has been repeatedly pursuing the matter with the state agencies for strengthening the action plan for various ex-situ and in-situ applications for control of paddy stubble burning.

(viii) ISRO has been roped in for recording and monitoring crop residue burning events, which shall avoid a diverse assessment of fire events and counts.

Apart from that, I have been convening regular meetings with CAQM, major central ministries, and state government departments, including chief ministers and chief secretaries, with the following objectives:

• To assess the preparedness to deal with the cause of air pollution in the ensuing winter season.

• To explore the use of parali as resources in thermal power plants, fodder, feedstock for 2G ethanol power plants, feedstock in compressed biogas plants, fuel in industrial boilers, WTE plants, brick kilns, packaging materials, agri-panels, and other eco-friendly applications.

• Perform in-situ bio-decomposition of parali using proven technology and set a target for the year.

• Review of preparedness by thermal power plants in the NCR for using biomass pellets as a supplement to coal fuel

• Review the prevailing status of fire events and air quality.

• A strict action plan for the control of pollution based on monitored values of the air pollution level and speed of air on Dussehra, Diwali, and during the crucial period of harvesting and next sowing of crops.

I convened a VC meeting on October 11, 2022, with state environment ministers from Delhi, the NCR, and Punjab to review the action plan for air quality management in Delhi-NCR in the coming winter.

Diwali has been blamed for the spike in AQI. But the figures put out by the environment ministry show that this is not entirely the case. Do you agree?

Most of the time, firecrackers are burned in excess, leading to a rapid increase in air pollution and noise pollution. Due to meteorology, it may also contribute to local and regional air pollution.

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The Hon’ble Supreme Court of India banned the traditional crackers that contained pollution-causing barium nitrate back in 2018, promoting the use of green crackers instead.

Green crackers are environmentally friendly fireworks and can reduce the air pollution caused by traditional firecrackers.

Is there a technology or alternative that is cheaper for stubble burning?

Bio-decomposer for in-situ crop residue management is a cheaper alternative to stubble burning in the NCR. A bio-decomposer formulation was developed by Pusa and is one of the vital in-situ stubble management options. Further, to ease the process, M/S Nurture Farms has partnered with IARI for licencing and enhancing the Pusa bio-decomposer technology in a powder form that is readily sprayable with water solution.

To make the biodecomposer application successful and effective, it is to be ensured that the application is carried out in conjunction with appropriate CRM machinery for adequately mixing the same with the soil, as well as light irrigation to facilitate faster and more effective bio-decomposition of the stubble.

Upon my request, the Hon’ble Minister, A&FW, informed me that provisions have been incorporated under the CRM scheme for conducting large-scale demonstrations of bio-decomposer technologies on the farmers’ fields by state governments, Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKS), and institutions under ICAR. It has been stated that financial requirements towards the same may be met from flexi funds being provided under the scheme, and tractor-operated sprayers (boom type) and self-propelled high ground clearance sprayers (boom type), which are used for spraying bio-decomposer formulations, are already covered for financial assistance under the Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM).

You have pitched for environment-friendly options, a ban on single-use plastics, and to look for viable alternatives. Do you suggest any incentives for small start-ups and industries that want to recycle waste and use it to produce alternatives?

Several start-ups are using agricultural waste and plant residue to manufacture alternatives.

• Schemes from DPIIT, Startup India, and MSME provide incentives to these start-ups and industries in the field of manufacturing alternatives to plastics.

• Under the "India Plastic Challenge—Hackathon 2021," organised by the ministry of environment, forests, and climate change, two startups were awarded for developing alternatives to single-use plastics. One startup developed a completely biodegradable alternative to thermocol from paddy straw waste (parali), and the other developed packaging material from seaweed.

• Recently, a national expo on alternatives to banned single-use plastics items and the Conference of Startups 2022 were organised by the MoEFCC and the Government of Tamil Nadu in Chennai on September 26 and 27, 2022. More than 150 manufacturers of eco-alternatives from across the country are participating in the expo. The eco-alternatives included items made from natural fibres such as coir, bagasse, rice, and wheat bran, plant and agricultural residue, banana and areca leaves, jute, and cloth. The Conference of Startups provided a platform to exchange views among innovators, financial institutions, and government departments supporting start-up ecosystems in the country.

• The enforcement of the ban on identified single-use plastic items will allow the alternatives to replace the banned items.

When we say no to plastic, we save the environment. But what about jobs—those involved in these plastic factories?

• To encourage the transition from the manufacturing of banned SUP items, the ministry of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) is providing support to enterprises under various schemes of the ministry with respect to technology up-gradation, creating awareness, marketing support, infrastructural support, and adopting alternatives to identified single-use plastics, as per scheme guidelines.

• The manufacturing of alternatives will create new employment opportunities, and new business models will develop.

• The ban would help protect and conserve the environment, which will ensure sustainable development.

• The manufacturing and supply of alternatives have provided an opportunity for new livelihood opportunities and business models to develop. It has been seen that many self-help groups are making alternatives from locally available materials and bioresources.

We saw during Chhat how much the Yamuna foamed. It’s a health hazard, and ambitious Yamuna cleaning work has not worked. What’s the choice for people there, then?

The River Yamuna is polluted in the Delhi stretch, downstream of the Wazirabad barrage. Two major factors are (a) lack of fresh water or dilution in the river system and (b) discharge of industrial and domestic wastewater.

Options are: (a) revival of Najafgarh Jheel, which can bring fresh water into the Najafgarh drain and the Yamuna; (b) control of nitrogen and detergent-containing discharge from textile mills; and (c) control of the discharge of untreated sewage.

Author : Rajdhani Delhi Representative

Rajdhani delhi representative

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