Delhi Air Quality Crisis: The Role of Crop Stubble Burning

In the capital of the Nation, Delhi, people have been facing an alarming reality for the past week—Delhi air quality is consistently ranging above the hazardous AQI level of 400, causing a yellowish, eye-irritating smog. This isn't just a one-time thing it is an annual problem that affects the health of Delhiites. One of the major contributors to Delhi's smog problem is the practice of burning crop stubbles in the neighboring states. 

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Following the rice harvest, farmers often burn down stubbles to quickly clear their fields for the next season. This Crop burning not only releases harmful pollutants into the atmosphere but also impacts the Delhi air quality, leading to choking smog. 

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As per the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology in Pune, stubble burning accounted for 25 percent of the PM2.5 pollution in Delhi on November 2, This percentage was expected to increase to 35 percent on November 3. 

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Understanding Why Farmers Burn Crops:

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Despite the fact that burning the crops affects the Delhi air quality, it's important to note that many farmers who burn down crop stubbles do that out of necessity but not to harm the environment or anybody else intentionally.

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You can hear directly from one such farmer Gurnaib Singh in this video telling us "Burning stubble is not my hobby, but I have no other choice. The government needs to find a solution. We do not want to burn stubble but we are helpless. The government's efforts to stop crop burning have not been successful. Our children and family also stay here, and they are at risk too but we have no better options, we are helpless"

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In the fight against air pollution and caused by crop stubble burning and improving Delhi air quality, it's essential to work together to find alternative and sustainable methods for managing crop residues. 

One such alternative is Biogas Plants.

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How Biogas Plants Can Help? One Solution Multiple Benefits:

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To solve this Crop stubble burning, we need innovative and sustainable solutions. One of those ideas is to use biogas plants. These plants can play a crucial role in reducing the impact of crop stubble burning on Delhi air quality, which not only helps the environment but also the farming community.

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Biogas Plants or Biodesters can be considered as machines that can transform the pollution-causing crop stubble into a clean renewable energy source. Which helps the farmers in smartly managing the leftover crop stubbles. 

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Making biogas from crop stubbles is not only beneficial for reducing smog; it's also great for the environment. Biogas is a sustainable source of energy. Farmers can use this energy to power their homes and cook food, which means they don't need to rely on traditional methods. 

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The best part is that this helps the farmers financially too. They can sell out biogas to generate additional income and make their farming more sustainable.

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Conclusion:

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The battle against the Delhi air quality crisis requires all of us to work together and find innovative solutions, and to make a commitment to a greener and healthier future. While burning crop stubbles remains a major contributor to the problem, the installation of biogas plants can be a game-changer. It not only stops the smog but also gives farmers a carbon-neutral energy source and can significantly improve AQI in Delhi and overall air quality.

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We should support and encourage farmers to use Biogas Plants. This way, we can have cleaner air, better health, and an eco-friendlier India. Together, we can turn the page on the smog-filled days and create a cleaner more sustainable future for everyone, especially our young Indians.

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To get more insight on how Paddy straws can be used to create biogas, please listen to Dr. Ratnesh Tiwari a Doctorate from IIT Delhi and Managing Director Koshish Sustainable Solution Private Limited

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