Explanation:

The government of Punjab has set a six-month deadline ( till May 1, 2023) for brick-kilns to comply with the state government’s instructions to use 20 per cent straw as fuel.

An official notification in this regard has already been issued by the government.

According to the Environment, Science and Technology Minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer brick-kilns have been given six months to prepare for this new management and thereafter, action would be taken against defaulters.

It should be noted here that the farmers in Punjab have been provided 1.25 lakh machines on subsidy for in situ stubble management. Under ex situ stubble management, industries are being encouraged to use stubble as fuel. Efforts are being made to generate CNG, electricity and other energy sources from straw.

The use of straw as fuel by the kilns would help check the farm fires that has become a major issue in the region. Additionally, it would also help farmers earn money by selling straw. The Department of Environment and Science and Technology will provide technical aid to the kilns to adapt to the new methodology.

It may be recalled that the NHRC had recently noted that farmers were burning stubble “under compulsion” and state governments had failed to provide equipment to them.

The paddy crop, which is harvested with combine harvester machines leaves behind a stubble on the farm. Therefore, in order to destroy this stubble, many farmers find setting the crop residue on fire to be the most ‘effective and cheap’ method as they want to prepare their farm for sowing of the next winter crop.

The short time window between paddy harvesting and sowing the wheat crop- just about three weeks - is one of the primary reasons why farmers resort to stubble burning. In Punjab and Haryana, the harvesting of the paddy crop is usually done between the second half of September till early November. The sowing of the wheat crop normally starts in the first week of November and continues for over a month and a half.