CAPITAL GASPS: Stubble burning up, must push for greener alternatives, says EPCA chief Bhure Lal

Stubble burning has increased in Delhi's neighbouring states this year compared with 2017 despite strict enforcement, said EPCA chairperson Bhure Lal on Friday, as he stressed the need for raising awareness of eco-friendly alternatives to this practice.

Paddy straw can be a rich source of fertilisers and merging it with soil is its best utilisation, said the head of the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) at a workshop on Bulk Utilisation of Crop Residue for Economic and Environmental Sustainability organised by the PHD Chamber.

He said the younger generation is willing to explore alternatives, though their older counterpart still supports stubble burning. "It takes 45 days for paddy straw to decompose completely and then be used as fertiliser, but farmers usually have just 25 days," he said. "If we succeed in reducing this period of 45 days to 25 days, our problems related to stubble burning will be solved," said the official from the Supreme Court-empowered environment body. He warned that this trend must change otherwise it would be "difficult to breathe".

Stubble burning in adjoining Punjab and Haryana adds to the deteriorating air quality in Delhi. The air in the national capital last Thursday plunged to 'severe plus emergency' category due to bursting of firecrackers. The air quality index stood at 642.