Air Pollution

NGT Intervention to prevent Stubble Burning

Prelims Only | Enviro & Biodiversity | Mains Paper 3: Conservation, Environmental Pollution & Degradation, Eia
Note4Students

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :

Prelims level: National Green Tribunal (NGT), Pusa-Biodecomposer

Mains level: NA

Why in the news?

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Punjab government to devise a comprehensive strategy for managing the estimated 19.52 million tonnes of paddy stubble in the state.

About National Green Tribunal (NGT)

Description
Establishment Formed in 2010 under the National Green Tribunal Act as a statutory body.
Objective

 
  • To deal with cases related to environmental issues and ensure speedy implementation of decisions.
  • Responsible for making many prominent decisions aimed at environmental protection, including addressing air pollution in Delhi and cancelling coal block clearances.
Composition
  • Headquartered in Delhi, chaired by a retired Supreme Court judge
  • Included Judicial Members and Expert Panel.
Powers Empowered to decide on questions related to various environmental laws and hear civil cases concerning environmental issues:

  1. The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974;
  2. The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Act, 1977;
  3. The Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980;
  4. The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981;
  5. The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986;
  6. The Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991;
  7. The Biological Diversity Act, 2002.
Exceptions Prohibited to hear any issues which are covered under:

  1. The Indian Forest Act, 1927,
  2. The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and
  3. Any other laws made by States which are related to protection of trees, forests, etc.
Places
  • Principal bench in Delhi;
  • Additional benches in Bhopal, Pune, Kolkata, and Chennai.
Governing Principles
  • Governed by principles of natural justice, not bound by Indian Evidence Act.
  • Applies principles of sustainable development, precautionary, and polluter pays.
Review and Challenge
  • NGT orders can be reviewed as per Rule 22 of NGT Rules.
  • Can be challenged before the Supreme Court within ninety days.

NGT intervention in Punjab

  • The ban and action against people burning crop residue are regulated under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
  • Punjab is required to provide details on the steps taken to utilize paddy straw in the previous year, including the mode and manner of removal, transportation, and utilization in various units.
  • Punjab estimated an increase in paddy straw generation to 52 million tonnes in 2024, with a projected utilization of 18.66 million tonnes.
  • Notably, the off-site utilization is expected to see a significant 60% increase, with 5.96 million tonnes being utilized in industrial and energy plants.

Alternatives used for Stubble Burning

  • In-Situ Treatment: This involves managing crop residue directly in the field. Examples include using zero-tiller machines and bio-decomposers to break down stubble.
  • Ex-Situ Treatment: This method involves treating crop residue outside the field. An example is using rice straw as cattle fodder.
  • Turbo Happy Seeder (THS) Technique: This can uproot stubble and sow seeds while clearing the field. The stubble can then be used as mulch.

Pusa-Biodecomposer

  • Pusa-Biodecomposer is a fungi-based liquid solution developed by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).
  • It softens hard stubble, making it easy to mix with soil as compost.
  • It produces enzymes to digest cellulose, lignin, and pectin in paddy straw, rapidly converting crop residues and other waste into organic manure.

 

PYQ:

[2019] Consider the following:

1.    Carbon monoxide

2.    Methane

3.    Ozone

4.    Sulphur dioxide

Which of the above are released into atmosphere due to the burning of crop/biomass residue?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2, 3 and 4 only

(c) 1 and 4 only

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

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