Politics of stubble burning: Solving the problem requires us to rethink paddy farming and irrational subsidies

 

The burning of paddy fields after the harvest, or stubble burning, is a major seasonal contributor to air pollution in north India just prior to winter. In the northern belt metros, already polluted with many activities, this additional pollution load from stubble burning tipped the scales heavily towards hazardous air quality index exceeding 400 and even reaching 1,000 in some places for some days, when the acceptable norm is 120 as per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

The resulting air pollution is now responsible for the ill health of millions and deaths of lakhs of people, and dominates headlines of newspapers in the entire northern belt. Reducing air pollution would require tackling the problem of stubble burning, which in turn requires us to rethink paddy farming.

more:  https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/toi-edit-page/politics-of-stubble-burning-solving-the-problem-requires-us-to-rethink-paddy-farming-and-irrational-subsidies/