A smog-free future: Tackling crop residue burning in Punjab and Haryana

Delhi's winter air pollution crisis has been a perennial challenge, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) peaking at alarming levels year after year.

- DR PALAK BALYAN

In mid-November this year, the city's air pollution reached an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 495—a stark reminder of the pressing need for sustainable solutions to the issue of crop residue burning in neighboring Punjab and Haryana. Despite numerous interventions, the issue persists, demanding a more innovative and inclusive approach.

The roots of the problem can be traced back to 2009; the Preservation of Subsoil Water Act marked a significant step toward groundwater conservation, mandating a delay in rice sowing to align with monsoon rains. While this reduced irrigation dependency, it inadvertently exacerbated air pollution. The shorter window between rice harvest and wheat sowing leaves farmers with few options but to burn paddy straw to prepare their fields. This practice significantly contributes to the toxic smog enveloping Delhi and the surrounding regions during October and November.

Technological fixes: Where's the problem?

The introduction of machines like the Happy Seeder and Super Seeder, alongside government subsidies, was aimed at providing alternatives to burning. Yet, uptake remains limited due to high costs, escalating fuel prices, requirements of higher-value machinery, and inefficacy. Farmers have voiced concerns over the unreliability of these technologies, and in many cases, their crop yields have suffered due to improper seed depth during sowing. The super seeder's inefficiency has earned it the epithet "flop seeder" among frustrated farmers.