Lucknow, 15 Nov: On Tuesday, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath voiced alarm over growing pollution and urged officials to inform farmers about the negative environmental impacts of stubble burning.
The government stated in an official release that Adityanath instructed the authorities to increase awareness among farmers about measures such as stubble fermentation by watering it and adding urea to combat the problem. The chief minister suggested that camps be put up in vulnerable villages to avoid stubble burning.
Devesh Chaturvedi, Additional Chief Secretary (Agriculture), stated that stubble was being transported to ‘gaushalas’ (cow barns) in every district. The ‘Parali Do, Khaad Lo’ initiative is being widely pushed in the districts to discourage stubble burning, he added.
In addition, 16 bio-briquette and bio-coal plants have been established, to which the stubble is sent. According to the statement, super SMS or other agricultural equipment for crop residue management, in addition to combination harvesting, should be essential.
There was no indication of stubble burning in Varanasi, Sonbhadra, Sant Ravidas Nagar, Mahoba, Kasganj, Jalaun, Hamirpur, Gonda, Chandauli, Banda, Badaun, Azamgarh, Amroha, or Agra, according to the statement.
Furthermore, sugarcane harvesting has started in western Uttar Pradesh, while paddy harvesting has begun in eastern Uttar Pradesh, and districts in both regions require special attention. According to the government, the distribution of Pusa decomposers in each area is advised so that agricultural leftovers can be decomposed and managed in the field.
The Supreme Court and the National Green Tribunal have made stubble burning a penal offence, and the government has advised farmers to adopt systems to dispose of and reuse crop waste instead of burning it. The government also provides subsidies for agricultural technology, and many farmers have turned stubble into a source of income by using these machines. According to the announcement, other farmers might be inspired by them.
