Tribune News Service
New Delhi, December 10
The government is working on using stubble in biofuels and manure to reduce incidents of its burning, Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said intervening during a discussion on climate change in the Lok Sabha after Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal alleged that Punjab farmers were being “defamed” for stubble burning and demanded a white paper on the issue
The paddy stubble is seen as one of the sources of air pollution in the National Capital Region.
Asking the Centre to provide farmers with resources to deal with it, Badal cited reports, including a submission by the Central Government, to claim that the stubble burning plays a minimal role in air pollution.
She also asked the ministry to bring out a white paper on the issue.
Replying to her observations Yadav said the NTPC recently procured 3,000 tonnes of stubble and the government will review its result to see how it can be used for biofuels.
Pointing towards central allocations for machinery and measures to use it for different purposes so that farmers do not burn them, Yadav said stubble burning has now been decriminalised.
Cases have been lodged against farmers and fines imposed on them for burning stubble, the Bathinda MP said, accusing Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, one of the key players in the upcoming Punjab Assembly elections, of “defaming” Punjab farmers in Delhi
Speaking during the discussion under the Rule 193 in the House, Badal said that being an agricultural state, Punjab has been hit hard by climate change
Talking of contamination of ground water and soil over the years as Punjab worked to make green revolution a success, contributing to most for the country’s needs of rice and wheat, she said farmers have been burning stubble at their farms for centuries but an atmosphere has been created that they are poisoning the air.
What option does he (farmer) have, Badal questioned, claiming that vehicular emissions, illegal colonies and industries are to blame the most for air pollution in the National Capital.
Harsimrat Kaur Badal says Punjab farmers being ‘defamed’ for stubble burning, demands white paper
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