Tackling Stubble Burning: The Need for a Holistic Strategy Beyond Prosecution
UPSC Relevance
Prelims: Environment & Ecology (Air Pollution, Stubble Burning); Indian Polity and Governance (Statutory Bodies - CAQM, Role of Judiciary).
Mains:
General Studies Paper 2 (Polity & Governance): Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors; Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies (the functioning and effectiveness of CAQM).
General Studies Paper 3 (Environment & Economy): Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation; Major crops cropping patterns; Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices.
Key Highlights from the News
The article argues that "carrot and stick" approaches, such as imprisoning farmers, will not be enough to stop stubble burning in fields, which causes severe air pollution in North India.
A holistic, multi-pronged strategy is required to solve this problem.
The article criticizes the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), a statutory body formed to control air pollution, for failing to act independently due to political pressures.
CAQM's silence when stubble burning increased in Punjab, despite false information being released that it was decreasing, demonstrates its lack of transparency.
What is needed are better incentives for farmers, enforcing existing laws efficiently, and setting realistic goals.
The real root cause of this problem is the structure of agricultural economics, where debt-ridden farmers have no other easy options.
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