Centre's Efforts to Tackle Delhi-NCR's Air Pollution

Strengthening the Red Entry System

The Centre is intensifying efforts to combat air pollution in Delhi-NCR by targeting stubble burning, a major contributor to winter air pollution. A red entry in revenue records acts as a penalty for farmers burning stubble, which can hinder their ability to secure loans and mortgages.

New Draft Rules for Stubble Burning

• The draft Rules propose marking land with a red entry for up to 15 months if farmers are found burning stubble.
• If stubble burning persists or compensation isn't paid, the red entry validity extends for another 15 months.
• First introduced in 2023, these Rules include provisions related to red entries and specify compensation for stubble burning.

Impact and Opposition

The new draft has faced opposition from farm unions, delaying its implementation until after the paddy harvest season. Farmers, particularly in Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh, use stubble burning to prepare fields for wheat planting, contributing significantly to pollution.

Validity and Utilization of Red Entries

• Red entries expire after 15 months if no further incidents occur or if compensation is paid.
• The Rules clarify the utilization of environmental compensation for projects like crop diversification and biomass utilization.

State-Specific Impacts

• In Punjab, farm unions express concerns over loan, subsidy, and mortgage impacts.
• In Haryana, red entries on the Meri Fasal Mera Byora portal result in a two-year ban from agricultural schemes for offending farmers.

Farm Union Perspectives and Recommendations

Farm unions, like the Bharatiya Kisan Union, argue against forced red entries, advocating for financial assistance to manage stubble. A parliamentary committee recommends an incentive-based system for early removal of red entries for sustainable farming practices.