The major factors responsible for air pollution in National Capital Region (NCR) include high level of anthropogenic activities in the high-density populated areas in NCR, arising from various sectors viz. vehicular pollution, industrial pollution, roads and open areas dust, dust from construction and demolition project activities, biomass burning, agricultural stubble burning, municipal solid waste burning, fires in sanitary landfills and air pollution from dispersed sources, bursting of fire crackers etc.

The details of FIRs lodged and environment compensation imposed/collected by the Governments of Haryana and Punjab against paddy straw burning incidences is annexed as Annexure-I.

To control stubble burning instances, Government explored the possibilities of policy interventions for environmentally sound management of crop residue/parali including its use as supplementary fuel, aimed at additional source of income to farmers, better air quality, reduced GHG emissions and employment opportunities. For effective prevention and control of Stubble Burning, a framework and action plans on in-situ and ex-situ crop residue management, prohibition of stubble / crop residue burning, effective monitoring / enforcement, schemes to reduce the generation of paddy straw, IEC activities for the plan of action etc.

For control of pollution from roads, eleven (11) ‘dust control and management cells’ have been set up so far in Delhi. These cells take actions viz. optimum utilization of road sweeping machines, scientific disposal of dust collected, sprinkling of water and dust suppressants on roads / right of ways, augmentation of sweeping and sprinkling machines, proper maintenance of roads and also keep road pothole free, laying of roads to fully support mechanised sweeping, non-paved road sides to be paved or converted into green, greening of central verges / plantation of trees, cemented roads in industrial areas, identification of hot spots and implement specific road dust control measures etc.

ANNEXURE-I

The details of FIRs lodged and environment compensation imposed/collected by the Governments of Haryana and Punjab against paddy straw burning incidences is as follows:

 

Government of Haryana
Year	No. of Police Complaint/ FIR's Registered	Environmental Compensation collected (Rupees)
2016	0	19.38 Lacs
2017	236	42.17 Lacs
2018	167	50.05 Lacs
2019	2020	19.20 Lacs
2020 (till 21.12.2020)	464	86.46 lacs

 

Government of Punjab
Year	No. of Police Complaint/ FIRs Registered	Environmental Compensation collected (Rupees)
2018	Nil	19.625 lacs
2019	1737	14.80 lacs
2020	48	6.575 lacs

 

This information was given by Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Shri Ashwini Kumar Choubey in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.

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