Committee examined the imposition of the Environmental Compensation (EC) on the farmers for stubble burning under the Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Rules, 2023 (amended in 2024).
- EC is a policy instrument for the protection of the environment which works on the Polluter Pay Principal.
Key Recommendations
- Unified National policy: Formulate a unified policy for integrating agricultural residue into bioenergy generation.
- It should address ex-situ costs for crop residue management, etc.
- Also, it should prioritize the adoption of technologies like bio ethanol, compressed biogas, and biomass pellets.
- Economic incentives: There is a need to provide minimum support price for residue.
- Strengthening governance and redressal mechanism: Appoint an authority to address farmers' grievances promptly related to erroneous or disputed challans.
- Other:
- State Governments should incentivize the adoption of short-duration paddy varieties as an alternative to long-duration varieties such as PUSA 44.
- Assess impact of ongoing crop diversification incentives under schemes like the Crop Diversification Plan.
- Establishment of Real-time Mapping of Crop Acreage and Forecasting of Crop Maturity and Weather system.
- Establish interim storage facilities in different districts for collecting crop residue.
- Need to utilise EC funds for promoting sustainable agriculture.
