Government Measures Reduce Stubble Burning in North India

Stubble burning incidents in Delhi-NCR, Punjab, and Haryana have decreased this year owing to governmental support through farm machinery and other interventions, says Agriculture Secretary Devesh Chaturvedi. However, the problem persists in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. Overall, incidents fell by 15% compared to last year.

In a significant development, government efforts have led to a reduction in stubble burning incidents in Northern India, specifically Delhi-NCR, Punjab, and Haryana. Agriculture Secretary Devesh Chaturvedi announced this improvement, attributing it to the provision of farm machinery and related measures.

Speaking at an event, Chaturvedi confirmed that the policy of equipping farmers with necessary machinery has effectively curbed stubble burning, which contributes significantly to severe air pollution during the winter months. The last ten days reportedly saw negligible incidents.

However, the situation remains less optimistic in states such as Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, where burning incidents have increased. Despite these challenges, overall crop residue burning incidents dropped by 15% from the previous year, as reported by ICAR's data.

(With inputs from agencies.)