Cases of stubble burning coming down, says Delhi Minister Gopal Rai

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Thursday said cases of stubble burning have "come down" this year compared to the previous year and the government is taking action to "drastically bring down" cases.

The senior Aam Admi Party leader also said that since the sowing season is approaching, farmers are in a rush to burn stubble.

Speaking to on stubble burning cases in Punjab, he said, "Stubble burning is much less than last year. Previously, stubble burning was happening in a scattered manner. Now that the sowing season is coming, they (farmers) are in a rush to burn it all".


"We are talking to the people there. We need immediate action there (to bring down cases of stubble burning...," Rai added.

Supreme Court on Tuesday expressed grave concern over the hazardous air quality in the national capital, while directing that farmers should stop the stubble burning forthwith in northern States of Punjab, Haryana and Western Uttar Pradesh, saying, "It "was one of the major contributors to air pollution".

The Punjab government had told the apex court that stubble burning has reduced by 40 per cent since last year's stop. The bench said stubble burning should be stopped and there can't be a political battle all the time.

"We want it (stubble burning) stopped. We don't know how you do it, it's your job. But it must be stopped. Something has to be done immediately," Justice Kaul told the Advocate General of Punjab earlier in the month.

The top court was hearing cases relating to air pollution in Delhi- NCR.

Following the Apex Court's criticism, the Haryana Cabinet has unveiled a paddy stubble management policy aimed at utilising paddy straw for sustainable energy and completely curbing crop residue burning practices by 2027.

On Wednesday, the Committee of Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region and adjoining Areas in its report filed before the National Green Tribunal (NGT) stated that the state government of Punjab and various administrative agencies under it need to strictly and effectively implement the various components of the action plan to drastically bring down stubble burning cases.

Meanwhile the Delhi Government will on Friday decide whether it will implement the Odd-Even traffic restriction scheme from the coming week. Delhi Environment minister Gopal Rai said the state government is taking multiple measure to mitigate the effects of pollution.

"The speed of the air has never been still for so long. In this condition, we are trying to reduce all the sources (of pollution). As a blanket layer is there, pollution is trapped inside as well. If we do not control the new pollution, then the level will increase very much... That's why we are taking so many strict measures. Whether it's the winter action plan, GRAP, or implementing the direction given by the Supreme Court" Gopal Rai said.