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Indian Journal of Pure & Applied Biosciences (IJPAB)
Year : 2020, Volume : 8, Issue : 2
First page : (233) Last page : (237)
Article doi: : http://dx.doi.org/10.18782/2582-2845.7994

A Review on Problem of Paddy Stubble Burning in Punjab and Haryana

Satish Kumar^1* and Vijayanti Jakhar^2
1Department of Botany and ²Zoology
CMG Govt. College for Women, Bhodia Khera, Fatehabad, Haryana, India
*Corresponding Author E-mail: drsatishverma1008@gmail.com
Received: 25.02.2020  |  Revised: 29.03.2020   |  Accepted: 4.04.2020 

 ABSTRACT

Around 28.1 million tons of paddy stubble was produced in Punjab and Haryana but 42.21 % of it was burnt illegal in open fields of these two states in months of October & November of year 2018 while 59.79% was successfully utilized for soil fertility or other measures. Main reasons of paddy stubble burning includes short gap period between paddy crop harvesting and wheat crop cultivation; non-availability of migrant labour due to MNREGA scheme in their home states; increased mechanization to harvest crop and lack of proper planning by state authorities for farmers. Large scale burning of paddy crop residues in fields produces dense smog which is responsible for around 80% increase in incidences of road accidents and more than 60% increase in patients with respiratory problems. Paddy stubble burning produces greenhouse gases, toxic gases, aerosols, smoke, organic compounds and particulate matter in the air. Burning also decreases the soil quality and increases the cases of fire accidents. Paddy stubble burning is directly concerned with human health hazards including asthma, allergy and other respiratory problems. Pollution level reaches at alarming level in national capital region of Delhi during October and November months. National Green Tribunal has recommended satellite based monitoring of paddy stubble burning cases and Deputy Commissioners are given power to register cases against the culprits. No doubt, paddy stubble has many uses like fodder for cattle, household fuel, formation of compost, manufacturing of paper & board, mushroom cultivation, bedding for cattle, bio-thermal energy production etc. There is great need that state governments should provide subsidy to the farmers on purchase of agriculture implements to harvest paddy crop residue, should purchase crop residue direct from fields and should bring awareness among farmers about harmful effects of crop residue burning by organizing camps, trainings, workshops etc. In short, policymakers & pollution control authorities must focus to solve the problem of paddy stubble burning in Punjab & Haryana.

Keywords: Paddy stubble, Crop residue, Respiratory problems, Pollution, Health hazards.

Full Text : PDF; Journal doi : http://dx.doi.org/10.18782

Cite this article: Kumar, S., & Jakhar, V. (2020). A Review on Problem of Paddy Stubble Burning in Punjab and Haryana, Ind. J. Pure App. Biosci. 8(2), 233-237. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.18782/2582-2845.7994