Delhi government to approach AQC over stubble solution

Delhi government will formally file a petition in the Air Quality Commission(AQC) with the impact assessment report of the biodecomposer technique, developed by PUSA Agricultural Institute, used in the vast farmlands of the city which has turned stubble into manure.

In a press conference on Friday, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal shared the results of the experiment and said it can be a viable solution for stubble burning which is one of the major reasons behind Delhi and neighbouring areas turning into a gas chamber during winter. Delhi government will put forward its appeal for the AQC to direct other states to implement the bio-decomposer technique.

Sharing the results of the experiment, CM urged the Centre and state governments of Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh to implement the same technique to prevent stubble burning. It has been a success, and the impact assessment report across 24 villages in Delhi has shown that around 70-95% of stubble had turned into manure, in as low cost as Rs 30 per acre, CM said.

“For the last 10-12 years, the smoke from stubble burning in October and November reaches Delhi and travels across Northern

India, which causes massive pollution in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana,” Kejriwal said adding that people across

North India suffer due to massive pollution from stubble burning every year.

CM said that until now no significant step was taken in this regard, except politics, statements, and conflicts on the matter. In a

bid to resolve this problem Pusa Agricultural Institute has developed a bio-decomposer solution, which, if sprayed on the

farmlands, will convert the stubble into manure. When a farmer burns stubble, it destroys the good bacteria on the fields as well

as the fertility and productivity of the soil. The bio-decomposer solution helps retain the good bacteria and improves the fertility

of the soil along with preventing pollution,” CM said.

Delhi government has received a report on the impact of the bio-decomposer technique in 24 villages across Delhi, on a sample basis. “Around 70-95% of the stubble had decomposed into manure. We talked to the farmers; they are very happy with the results. We have the resolve to stubble burning with us, it is on the governments to act now,” Kejriwal said.