Chandigarh, November 16 Stubble burning was the biggest challenge due to the short period left with farmers to dispose of paddy residue, Union Minister for Railways, Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal said. He said, “We face a challenge of disposing of the waste generated from paddy harvesting in a short span of time. Then the farmers also have to remove the residue so that they can harvest the next crop.” According to the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB), a 45 per cent increase in incidents of farm fires has been witnessed this year. It is due to the rise in such cases, there is an apprehension that a law passed by the Punjab Government in 2009 asking farmers to delay paddy sowing resulted in an increase of the stubble burning cases in the recent time. The Punjab Preservation of Subsoil Water Act of 2009 imposed a delay in paddy plantation by directing that no farmers shall show paddy nursery before 10th day of May of the agricultural year or other date notified by the government. Justice Swatanter Singh (retd), former National Green Tribunal Chief, said, “There has been no implementation of guidelines/suggestions on managing crop residue.” In 2014, the Union Government had released the National Policy for Management of Crop Residue. UT can set up waste processing plant Goyal said in Chandigarh, almost every sector and society can easily set up a waste processing plant in which all biodegradable waste can be incinerated and converted to fertiliser, energy or gas. As there are many cowsheds across the state of Punjab and Haryana, gobar gas plants can be easily set up. No implementation of guidelines Justice Swatanter Singh (retd), former National Green Tribunal Chief, said, “There has been no implementation of guidelines/suggestions on managing crop residue.” In 2014, the Union Government had released the National Policy for Management of Crop Residue

Stay updated with all the Chandigarh Latest News headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.