Stubble burning
Context:
Recently, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has doubled the fines applicable to farmers who are caught indulging in stubble burning in the Delhi capital region.
Relevance:
GS-03 (Conservation, Pollution)
Stubble burning:
- It is a practice of intentionally setting fire to the remains of grains, such as rice and wheat, after they have been harvested.
- It is a quick and cheap way to clear the fields without having to spend any money.
- It has been associated with increasing air pollution over the last decade. It generates a thick haze, which poses significant health risks to individuals across all ages.
- Countries such as India and Pakistan have made stubble burning illegal.
- Action plans: The state governments of Punjab, National Capital Region (NCR) States, and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) have developed action plans to tackle air pollution from stubble burning.
Harmful Effects of stubble burning:
- Loss of nutrients in the soil: It makes the soil less fertile. The heat from stubble burning can also cause the soil to lose moisture and useful microbes
- The pollution from the smoke increases the greenhouse gases and other gases (carbon monoxide, methane, and volatile organic compounds) that damage the ozone layer.
- The floating threads of conductive waste damage electrical and electronic equipment’s.
- Prolonged stubble burning kills beneficial microflora and fauna in soil, which reduces organic matter and destroys the carbon-nitrogen equilibrium.
- It affects people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, as it worsens their health conditions. It can lead to some permanent health issues like lung diseases, cancer, and emphysema.
- Additionally, people who have been exposed to smog can develop eye irritation, eye-watering, and conjunctival hyperaemia symptoms.
What is CAQM?
- It is a statutory body formed under the Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas, Act 2021.
- It has been set up for Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas for better coordination, research, identification, and resolution of problems surrounding the air quality index and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
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