“The National Air Quality Commission informed the three AAP MLAs it met that it is seized of the matter and will take required steps including the formulation of appropriate policies and strategies to control stubble burning, in due consultations with stakeholders concerned, on a priority basis,” the commission, formed by the Union Environment Ministry, said.
The newly-appointed Commission for Air Quality Management on Monday said it will take required steps to curb air pollution in the national capital, including the formulation of appropriate policies and strategies to control stubble burning – sigh.
Blame it on him,
Blame him on that
Who said, there has to be a fact?
All you gotta know is the art of making an impact!
With political evangelists and propagandistic crusaders walking on the ramps of political ideologies and certain show off – public welfare usually takes the back seat!
Burning off residual crops in parts of Punjab, Haryana, and western Uttar Pradesh has more often affected Delhi in ways humanely possible – leading to unprecedented smog trails all over. Howbeit, Delhi high court has banned stubble burning – which owes to soil and air contamination – people still, as a matter of fact, continue to do the same, knowing, its outcomes!
Also read: Government College In Kashmir Being Upgraded Under World Bank Funded Project
Experts say, more than 500 million tonnes of parali (crop residue) are produced – more like burnt – each year!
Crops like rice, wheat, maize, and millets make upto the 70% of the total crop residue in the burning. But what people tend to forget is the fact, that if burning is one solution then cattle feeding, composting, roofing in rural areas, biomass energy, mushroom cultivation, packing materials, fuel, paper, bio-ethanol, or industrial production could be the other!
The government made endless policies in accordance with the tragic history our nation has incurred over the years – for instance, the National Policy for Management of Crop Residues to protect the parali is there on ‘papers’, but can never be seen/implemented!
What does the law say about it?
Burning crop residue is a crime under Section 188 of the IPC and under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. However, the government’s implementation lacks strength.
Solutions we seek? They are right where they need to be – right in front of our eyes! Well-off farmers can employ different machines like Happy Seeder, Rotavator, Baler, Paddy Straw Chopper, and Reaper Binder to remove the stubble. But these machines are costly and state governments should come forward and provide better subsidies to farmers so that they can use these machines.
In a nutshell, why is that only one has to bear the burden of many? And why not the multitude who’s the sole reason for it?
Farmers alone cannot bear the burden of reducing pollution from stubble burning. Individual small scale farmers do not have the capacity to establish a long-lasting solution. The legislature, executive, and the judiciary are trying to find a solution to this vexing problem.
I’d like to sum up by quoting Tim Shelton’s greatest work called the political change: –
“What can we do?”
As one, we cry.
“We know they cheat;
We know they lie!
I am just one;
and they are many,
they the pound
and I, a penny.”
But a single pound coin thrown in rage
does less damage than a bag of change.
why do we bow
to those, we cannot trust?
When there are six-hundred and fifty of them
And sixty-five million of us?
