Explanation:

The Punjab government has joined hands with Delhi government to use Pusa bio-decomposer in order to curb the practice of stubble burning.

Pusa bio-decomposer is a microbial solution that can decompose paddy straw in 15 to 20 days.

The decomposer will be used on 5,000 acres of land in the agrarian state to prevent stubble burning which is a major cause of air pollution in the state itself and surrounding areas.

The move comes after the Centre rejected the request of Punjab and Delhi governments to help them provide cash incentives to farmers in Punjab for not burning stubble.

As part of a pilot project to be implemented with the help of the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), bio-decomposer will be sprayed over 5,000 acres or 2,023 hectares of land in Punjab.

This year, the total area under paddy cultivation in Punjab is pegged at 29-30 lakh hectares. The state on an average generates around 20 million tons of paddy straw annually.

Besides, a massive awareness drive will be launched in the rural belt of Punjab, comprising officials of the Department of the Rural Development and Panchayat and the Punjab Pollution Control Board to persuade farmers to manage the stubble. The government has urged farmers to give fulsome support to the government to protect the land, air and water so that the future generations could enjoy a clean environment.