Stubble burning cannot solely be blamed for Delhi pollution: Shivraj Singh Chouhan
Speaking during Question Hour in the Rajya Sabha, he stated that scientific research indicates stubble burning accounts for no more than 5 per cent of winter pollution, while industries and vehicles remain the primary contributors.
PTC News Desk: Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Friday said that pollution in Delhi-NCR could not be blamed solely on stubble burning.
Speaking during Question Hour in the Rajya Sabha, he stated that scientific research indicates stubble burning accounts for no more than 5 per cent of winter pollution, while industries and vehicles remain the primary contributors.
“Still, acknowledging the harm caused by burning, the government provides a 50 per cent subsidy on machinery and 80 per cent for custom hiring centres under the Crop Residue Management (CRM) scheme. Over 3.5 lakh machines have been distributed across Punjab, Haryana, western UPs and MP, significantly reducing incidents,” he added.
The minister added that Haryana’s approach — which includes per-acre financial incentives for both in-situ and ex-situ crop residue management, promotion of crop diversification, adoption of Direct Seeding of Rice (DSR), and incentives for panchayats that avoid burning — has been recognised as a model practice.
He further said that in the state, stubble is now being transformed into useful products such as pellets, thermal power, biomass, bio-CNG, and other fuels.