Day 251

Toll 556

Kisan Sansad – Day 9

Today, the Kisan Sansad will discuss the Air Pollution issue. To be noted there is already an Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 which has had almost zero cases filed in the last 40 years. Last Friday, the government sneaked in the Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Law into the Parliament. (see post dated July 31).

The core issue is paddy straw burning by Panjab, Haryana, some west Uttar Pradesh farmers. To be noted, there is enough anecdotal evidence that early years Panjab Agricultural University encouraged straw burning. Now when scale of production of paddy has increased so much, Delhi claims it is only paddy smoke that pollutes it. Diwali does not happen, there is no vehicular pollution (25 per cent per reports), there is no industrial pollution because of use of petroleum coke (51 per per reports), just the agrarian sector (8 per cent per reports) pollutes our sweet national capital.

Well, okay, if you insist that straw burning pollutes, then all paddy growing areas also produce oxygen when the crop is growing. Will the government pay the farmers for oxygen and subtract money for straw burning? Because, you know science …

For years the National Green Tribunal has instructed governments to pay Rs 200 per quintal of paddy so the farmers can dispose off the straw. That has never happened. In non-paddy months Panjab government sponsors press reports that so and so industry – carboard, ethanol, and others – are coming up to help farmers manage straw. When the paddy season comes, farmers do not find those industries. Use of Happy Seeder is encouraged. Prices of Happy Seeder are inflated and discount offers made, they still remain beyond the means of small and marginal farmers.

Farmers are acutely aware of air pollution. After all, it is their families which suffer much before Delhi does. Actually winds are easterly that time of year, Delhi does not get winds from Panjab and Haryana. So, farmers take to mulching but the Panjab Subsoil Water Act – delayed paddy sowing, dependent on monsoon arrival, hence delayed harvest and short window to sow wheat for next season – does not give them enough time.

All this for paddy which is not a crop of Panjab and Haryana. Which these states do not consume but produce for the nation. Which has drained out their water aquifers, is pushing them towards desertification.

The need is for crop diversification. The need is to aid small and marginal farmers transition from paddy which pollutes our so pretty Dilli to other crops. The need is for financial assistance. But making the law is the easiest way out. Using satellites to find farmers guilty of setting fire to straw and imposing Rs 1 crore fine is the easy way out.

Hence, the session in the Kisan Sansad today where more and more farmers are arriving from all states of the country.