air pollution in delhi & ncr due to ineffective parali...

AIR POLLUTION IN DELHI & NCRDUE TO INEFFECTIVE PARALI MANAGEMENT

Message

Foreword

Chapter-1

Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 5

Ambient Air Quality Level ................................................................................................. 6

Genesis of the Problem .................................................................................................... 6

MechanizationofAgricultureanditsImpact ................................................................... 7

EffectsofPaddyStubbleBurningontheSoilFertility ....................................................... 9

ImpactsonHealth ............................................................................................................ 9

Chapter-2

ManagementofParali .................................................................................................... 10

AlternativeusesofParali ................................................................................................ 12

Chapter-3

Intervention&DirectionbyNationalAuthorities&theirImpact .................................. 16

Chapter-4

TheProject-PilotGassifierPowerPlanttobesetupatVillageLevel ............................ 19

Chapter-5

OutcomeoftheFieldVisits ............................................................................................ 24

Recommendations .......................................................................................................... 27

Acknowledgement .......................................................................................................... 31

References ...................................................................................................................... 33

CONTENTs

Study on Air Pollution in Delhi & NCR Due To Ineffective Parali Management 5

Chapter – 1 INTRODUCTION

Airpollution isoneof themajor challengeswhichwe face today in India.Delhi isoneof themostpollutedcitiesanditoccupies10thplaceamongsttoptenpollutedcitiesoftheWorld.Air

pollutioninDelhi&NCRisworsefromOctobertillJanuaryasitcoincideswiththeadventofwinter.Atthistimeparticlesremainsuspendedintheairforlongerdurationduetothelowertemperature,windspeedaswellashigherrelativehumidity.AirpollutionduringthisperiodbecomesworseduetoexcessiveburningoffirecrackersontheoccasionofreligiousfestivalDiwali.Simultaneously,Airpollution level furtheraggravatesand turns toxiconaccountofburningofpaddy stubble in theStatesofPunjab,HaryanaandWesternUttarPradeshasthesmokeisblownbyairtoDelhi-NCRleadingtotheformationofsmogthatmakesinhalingdifficult.IndiatopsthelistofcountrieswithAirpollution-relateddeaths.Intheyear2015,1.81millionpeoplediedprematurelyinthecountrydue to air born diseases.

Severe air pollution during last year is a proof of the criticality of air pollution in Delhi and itssurroundingCitiesandStates.Infactairpollutionadverselyaffectsourdaytodayactivitiesandhasbecomeaseriouspublichealthhazard.Everyyear30,000peopleprematurelydieinDelhiduetotheseriousillnessescausedbyairpollutantsthatpervadetheairpeoplebreathe.TophospitalsinDelhihavereportedariseincasesofrespiratorydiseasesinelderlypeopleandchildren.AIIMSreportalsoindicatestheincreaseinthenumberofpeopleinpulmonaryoutpatientdepartmentwithcoughandbreathlessnesswithoutanyprevioushistoryofrespiratoryillness.HealthcostduetoAirPollutionis8timesthatofGovernmentfuelsubsidyintheCountry.

The Experts team headed by Dr. K. D. Gupta conducted on the spot survey in more than 20 Villages in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar before finalizing the Report and recommendations. The team interacted with various stakeholders viz public; school children, farmers and Government authorities.

Infacttherearemanyenvironmentalrisksassociatedwithstubbleburning.Continuousburningofparaliforyearscanreducethesoilqualityanditsfertility.Smokefromburningstrawalsocontributesto increasedCarbondioxide levels in theatmospherewhichmayaffectGreenHouseGasBuild-Ups. Therefore adoption of alternate strawmanagement strategies is in the best interest of allstakeholders.

Theproductionofparali(PaddyStraw)hasdirectlinkwithcultivationofrice.PunjabandHaryanaproduceannually20milliontonsand8.5milliontonofparalirespectively.Themechanizedharvestingofpaddycrophasledtotheopenfieldburningofpaddystraw.BurningofmillionsoftoneofpaddystrawreleaseslargequantitiesofGreenHouseGases(GHGs),whichcreatesseriousdisturbancetoouratmosphere.

Study on Air Pollution in Delhi & NCR Due To Ineffective Parali Management6

Strawburningposesaseriouschallengeasavailablealternativesareeitherimpracticalorexpensive,thereforefarmerschoosethelowcostalternativetoburnthecropresidue.Therefore,irrespectiveof Government policy and wider environmental repercussion, the solution must provide goodincentivetofarmersnottoburnparali.

Themain factors that contribute towards abnormal increase in air pollution levels in Delhi-NCRis increasing vehicular emissions, unabated urbanization and massive construction activities. InDelhiabout10,000 tonsof solidwaste isproducedeverydaywhichultimately isburnedaddingparticulatepollutiontoair.Apartfromtheabove,anotherseriouscontributortoairpollutionistheuncheckedburningofcropstubble(parali)inthestatesofPunjab,Haryana,westernUPandpartofRajasthan. Last year burning of parali in Punjab during late october and early November increased air pollution levels of pM 2.5 to 1000 MG/M3 and pM 10 to above 1500 MG/M3. Which should be below 60 and 100 respectively as per the Indian standard.

AirPollutioninDelhi–NCRisperennialproblem.ThismaybeobservedfromdailyAirQualityIndexofDelhi&neighboringGurgaon(Haryana)&Noida(UP).

Ambient Air Quality Level

Genesis of the Problem

Themaincauseofcropresidueburningisaveryshortwindowoftimebetweenharvestingofpaddyandsowingofwheat,at theendof theKharif season.Paddy isawater-intensivecrop.Thehigh

Source: CENTRAL POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD, AIR LABORATORY (13)


usageofwaterinricecultivationhasresultedindepletionofundergroundwaterlevel.InordertocheckfurtherreductiontheCentralandStateGovernmentsarerestrictingthecultivationofpaddyinthesummermonths.Withaviewtopreventdiversionofscarcewaterresourcesinthesummer,paddycultivationcanbeginonlyaroundmid-June,whenthemonsoonsarriveovernorthIndia.TheriseinincomesandthesubsequentavailabilityofmechanicalimplementsinPunjabandHaryanaresultedinincreasedmechanizationofagricultureoverthepast10-15years.BeforemechanizationagricultureoperationsinthesestateswereperformedwiththehelpofmigrantfarmLaborsfromBiharandUttarPradeshwiththeresultparaliburningcaseswerenotreportedfromthesestates.Thepicturebelowpresentsthemanualharvestingofpaddycrop:

Since 2005, the demand for theseworkers saw a reduction, and accordingly, the availability ofassured income for farm labour declined. The launch of an assured rural income scheme in the formofNationalRuralEmploymentGuaranteeAct(NREGA)furtherledtoincomeopportunitiesintheirhomeStates.Asaresult,agriculturallabourhasbecomeascarcecommodityinPunjabandHaryana(3). Crop residueburning is an issue that cameup after farmers started using CombinedHarvestermachine forharvesting.Themachinedotheharvesting, threshingandcleaningof thegrainatthefielditself,whileearliermanualsickle-harvestingandthreshing-cum-cleaningmethodswereadoptedandstrawwastakenawayfromthefieldsleavingclearfieldsforsowingofthenextwheatcrop.Infact,fieldstudiesshowthateventhoughfarmersareawarethattheburningofstrawpollutestheenvironmentthatisaserioushealthhazard,howevertheydonothavealternativesforutilizingpaddystubbleeffectively.Astheyhavenosolutioninhandandarerunningshortoftimebeforesowing thewheatcrop, the farmersaredefiantandburnpaddystrawdespite theban&penaltyimposedbyNGT&theStateGovernment’sthreattostoptheirsubsidy.

Mechanization of Agriculture and its ImpactFarmersinPunjabandHaryanaandsomedistrictsofwesternUPusemechanizedharvesters,whichleavemore residue than crop harvestedmanually. The Combinemachines were introduced forharvestingtosavemoneyamidrisinglabourcost.


HarvestingofPaddy&WheatthroughCombineHarvestermachineiscommoninPunjab,HaryanaandsomepartsofUttarPradesh.Combinesareusedforharvestingofricein70-90%oftheareaunderricecultivation,leavinghugequantityofcropresidueandstubblesonthefield.Thecombinecutsthecropwellabovetheground, leavingbehind1’to1½’ longstubbles inthefield.Efficientandeconomicmanagementof8-10 tone/ha rice residuesand seedingofwheat cropontime isadauntingtaskforthefarmers,duetotheavailabilityofashortwindowofabout15-20daystocompletetheseoperations.LooseresidueinCombineharvestedricefieldsinterfereswiththesowingofwheatbecausethemachineleavestheresiduesinsuchastatethatitisdifficulttocollectthemmanuallyduetoacuteshortageofmanpowerinthestates.Intheabsenceofeffectivealternatesfarmersresolvethisproblem,byburningtheleftoverhuskandstubble.Thisisdonetopreparethefieldforsowingthenextcropofwheat.

It isnotonlyParaliwhich is tobeblamed forairpollution.Butalso thewheat residue leftafterharvesting and conversionofwheat stubbles in to fodder locally knownas Tudi. Theprocess ofTudimakingraisessubstancedustparticles intheairduringmarch–AprilandburningofwheatstubbleduringAprilend&beginningofMayeveryyear.ThiswasobservedbytheteamwhilevisitingLachkani&KheriManianvillagesinPatialablock.Pictureofthesituationmaybeseenbelow:

Mechanized Combine effect after harvesting by combine

Burning of leftover Wheat Stubble in Kheri Manian Village


Effects of Paddy stubble Burning on the soil Fertility

Besidesairpollution,burning of rice residue also results in loss of soil organic matter and plant nutrients that adversely affects soil health. about 90% of Nitrogen (N) and Sulfur (S) and 15-20% of phosphorus (p) and potassium (K) contained in rice residue are lost during burning. One tone of rice residue contains about 400 kg of C, 5-7 kg N, 1-1.7 kg p, 15-25 kg K and 1.1-1.4 kg S in addition to the significant amounts of micronutrients. total amount of N, p, K and S (NpKS) in 23 million tons of rice residue annually burnt in North West (NW) India is about 7 Lakh tons valued at >rs.1000 crore. Whole of organic carbon and about 2.8 Lakh tons of NpKS equivalents to about rs.200 crore is destroyed during burning. thus, rice residue recycling offers an important source for meeting the nutrient requirements of crops and improving soil health.

Themajorpollutantsemittedbycropresidueburning-CO2,CO,CH4,N2O,NOx,SO2,blackcarbon,non-methylhydrocarbons(NMHC),volatileorganiccompounds(VOC)andparticulatematter(PM2.5and PM 10), contribute enormously to global warming(7). In the first week of November 2016,ExtensivecropburningresultedinDelhiairbecomingthemostpollutedintheWorldandcompellingtheGovernmenttodeclareDelhiAirPollutionEmergency(www.theguardian.com/World/India).Itisestimatedthatonetonericeresidueonburningreleases13kgparticulatematter,60kgCO,1460kgCO2,3.5kgNOx,0.2kgSO2.TheblackcarbonemittedduringresidueburningwarmstheloweratmosphereanditisthesecondmostimportantcontributortoGlobalwarmingafterCO2.

Inaddition,burningofcropresiduesinthefieldalsodestroysthebeneficialmicroorganismsofsoilcausingadverseimpactonsoilhealth.

Impact on Health IncreaseinthelevelofPM2.5andPM10duetolargescaleburningofriceresiduesisamajorhealthhazard.Thechildrenandoldpeoplearemoresensitivetoairpollution(smog),duetoriceresidueburningwhichposessomeunrecoverableinfluenceontheirpulmonaryfunctions.Theemissionofhigh levelsofPM2.5andPM10intheaircauseschronicdiseases likecardiopulmonarydisordersirrecoverablelungcapacityorasthmainhumanpopulationofIndia.Thehealth-relatedexpenditurestendtobehigherforchildren,olderpeopleandfarmworkerswhoaredirectlyexposedtopaddystubbleburning.Thehumanhealthcosts fromcrop residueburning in ruralareasofPunjabareestimatedatRs. 7.61 crore annually(7). The costswouldbemuchhigher if expenseson avertingactivities,productivitylossduetoillness,monetaryvalueofdiscomfort,etc.,arealsoincluded.

SOMe OF the DISeaSeS CaUSeD BY aIr pOLLUtION are -ASTHMATICATTACKS,WEAKENINGOFLUNGFUNCTION,PULMONARYCANCER,MESOTHELIOMA,PNEUMONIA,BRONCHITIS,EMPHYSEMA,LEUKEMIA, BIRTH DEFECTS AND IMMUNE SYSTEM DEFECTS, CARDIOVASCULAR PROBLEMS,NEUROBEHAVIORALDISORDERS,LIVERANDOTHERTYPESOFCANCER&PREMATUREDEATHS.

The expert team which visited the sites have recommended very cost effective measures forconsiderationoftheauthoritiesandpublicatlargetoarrestthisseriousprobleminthefollowingpages.


Chapter - 2MANAGEMENT OF PARALI

Theproductionofparalihasdirect linkwithcultivationof rice. India isWorld’s second largestproducer of white and brown rice, accounting for 20% of allWorld rice production. Rice is

India’spre-dominantcrop,andisthestaplefoodofthepeopleoftheeasternandsouthernpartsof the country(1).Intheyear2017,theareaofcultivationunderriceinthecountrywasestimatedapproximatelyat43.2millionhectares(4).Cultivationofpaddyisdonein21statesofIndiaofwhichthereare10topriceproducingstates.Thesestatesareproducing83.5percentoftotalriceinIndia.

PunjabandHaryanabothtogetherproduce15.3percentofthetotalriceproduction.Howeverthecasesofparaliburningarebroadlyreportedfromthesetwostates.Inotherstatestraditionalmethodofharvestingofriceisadoptedandunderthissystemriceisharvestedmanually.Theycutthepaddystrawfromtherootandmakesmallbundlesofthepaddystraw.Thebundlesareremovedfromthefieldandstoredoutsidethefieldatoneplace.ThetraditionalsystemofharvestinghelpsinkeepingthefieldsstrawfreewhichdoesnotobstructthesowingofthenextRabicrop.Thisiswitnessedbythepicturebelow:

status in Punjab:RiceisgrownfromMaytoOctober,followedbywheatfromNovembertoMarch.Theturnaroundbetweenriceharvestandwheatsowingmustbequick,asanydelayadverselyaffectsthewheatproduction.IntheState,Riceisproducedonabout28LakhhectaresandWheatisgrownon35Lakhhectares,thisisasperdataavailablewithPunjabAgriculturalUniversity,Ludhiana(5).

11milliontonsofricegrowninPunjableavesbehindabout20milliontonsofstrawtobemanagedeffectivelyofwhichabout85-90percentpaddystrawisburnt inthefield.Asalreadymentionedabovethatthishappensbecausefarmersdonothavelongdurationoftimetocompletethenextagricultureprocessbeforethenextcropseasonbegins.Thestrawisusuallyburnedopenlyinspiteofregulationsandknowledgeofenvironmentalpollution.


Satellitedatafortheyear2017capturedbythePunjabRemoteSensingCentrefoundthattherewere40,510fireincidentsinPunjabalone,betweenSeptember27andNovember9,roughlycoincidingwiththeKharifharvestseason.4,446incidentswerespottedonNovember4alone,thehighestinasingleday.BurningofparalitakesplacealmostinalldistrictsofPunjab.Thenumberoffireincidentsin2017maybeglancedfromthediagramandtablebelow(5):

status in Haryana: IntheStateofHaryana,theproblemofpaddystrawburningalsoexists,althoughthe scale is smaller than inPunjab.Paddystubbleburningareas in the10majorpaddygrowingdistrictsofHaryanasince2013usingsatellitedatawhichprovides informationat5days interval.Onanaveragepaddystubbleburningoccurredinabout14%to24%ofthericegrowingareainthedistrictsof thestate.Majorpaddystubbleburningwasobserved inKarnal,Kurukshetra,Kaithal,FatehabadandSirsadistrictsduringall thepreviousfiveyears.During2016Kharifseason12862activecropfirelocationswereidentifiedascomparedto12417pointsduringcurrent(2017)Kharifseason.DistrictwisehighestcropfirelocationshavebeenobservedinFatehabad,Sirsa,KarnalandKaithaldistrictsduringboththeyears(6).

rice Stubble Burning area from the year 2013 to 2017 in haryana


Alternate Uses of Parali

Thelargeamountofricestrawisaby-productofthericecultivationinthecountry.Itisestimatedthatover500milliontonsofParaliisProducedannuallyinIndia.Ricestrawisrichinpolysaccharidesand has a high lignin and silica content, limiting voluntary intake and reducing degradability bymicroorganisms.Presentlyricestubblehasthefollowinguses:

I. Fodder for animals:Oneof theprominent uses of paddy straw canbe fodder for animals.Thispracticeisnotverypopularamongfarmersduetohighpolysaccharides,ligninandsilicacontentinpaddystraw(8) picture - I.

II. Bedding Material for Cattle: Paddystrawcanbeusedasbeddingmaterialandtobuildhouseforcattleduringwinter.Thishelpsimprovingthequalityandquantityofmilkasitcontributestoanimals’comfortandhealth,picture - II.

III. Mushroom Cultivation:PaddyStrawcanbeusedinmakinggroundformushroomcultivation.Paddy strawmushroom is also known as “warmmushroom” as it grows at relatively hightemperatureandtotalcropcycleiscompletedwithin4-5weekstime(9)(10) picture - III.

IV. parali Briquettes:Thealternateusestrawsformakingthebriquettes.Theparalicanbeconvertedintobio-fuelthroughcompressingandusedasfuelbriquettes.Thebriquettescanbeusedinindustrialboilers.Theplantmayalsoprocessgrass,woodsawdust,peanutshells,coconutfibrepicture - IV.

picture - I picture - II

picture - IVpicture - III


V. paper & Board production:PaddyStrawisalsobeingusedformakingofPaper&Board.Where,itisestimatedthataround0.1milliontonsofpaddystrawisbeingusedbypaperindustryforpapermakinginPunjab.Thereisnotonlyaneedtocontinuethisbutalsotoenhanceitsutilizationto0.2milliontonsby2017.Further,theadventofnewpackingmateriallikethermocolehasadverseenvironmentalimplicationsincludingdisposalproblem.Useofpaddystrawasapackingandfillingmaterialisaneffectivealternativetothermocoleandothermaterialssuchasplasticor paper needs to be promoted,wherever feasible (Policy forManagement andUtilizationofPaddyStrawinPunjab2013).FarmerGurdeepSinghofFerozepurdistrictmakespacking-materialcardboardfrompaddystubbleinavillagefactory.(6thNovember2015,filephotographTheIndianExpress)picture - V.

VI. Organic Manure: Stubble burning being held responsible for raising pollution to dangerouslevelsintheNationalCapitalRegion,over50villagesinMeerutdistrictofwesternUttarPradeshhavestartedanenvironment-friendlyinitiative.Theyhavestoppedburningpaddycropresidueandsugarcaneleavesinsteadthefarmershavestartedmakingorganicmanurebyusingthem.Intheprocess,inthepastoneyearalone,theypreventedreleaseof2,250,000kgofcarbondioxideduetoburningofcropresidueintheenvironment(11) picture - VI.

VII. electricity Generation:Oneoftheeffectiveprocreativealternatestocontrolburningofparaliistogenerateelectricitybyutilizingpaddycropresidue;PaddystubbleisBio-masswhichisRenewableSourceofEnergy,whichisadvocatedtocheckGlobalWarming.Therearetwowaystomaterializethisalternative.One is touseparali inThermalPowerStations.ThisalternateisorderedbyMNREGovernmentofIndia.TheMinistryhasdirectedNationalThermalPowerCorporation(NTPC)ManagementtouseparaliintheirPowerStationsintheratioof90%coaland10%PaddyStraw.

Howevertherearefewimpedimentsinimplementationofthisalternative.NTPChavegiventheirwillingnesstouseparaliasfuelalongwithcoalintheboilersoftheirpowerplants.AccordinglyNTPCwouldprocure10000to15000tonsparaliadayas fuel for theirplants.Howeverthey indicatedthatparalihastobeconvertedintopelletsbeforeuseasfuelintheboilersofPowerPlants.InthiscaseparaliitistobetransportedfromPunjab&Haryanafirsttotheplaceforpelletization&thentransportpellettoThermalPowerStation.

picture - VIpicture - V


TheTaskForcesetupbytheNitiAayoghasmadeanobservationthatparaliislowcalorificsubstanceanditstransportationtoover10to15Kmforuseasafuelisanunviablepropositionasmoreenergywillbespentonitstransportationthentheenergyitwouldgenerate.

MoreovertheelectricitygeneratedbyThermalPowerPlantsthroughuseofParalihastobetransmittedback to the villages for use fromwhereparaliwas collected. The transmissionof electricitywillinvolve30percenttransmissionlossesandwouldrequirehugeinvestmentonextensionofsupplylines,stepdownsubstationsandmaintenancethereof.Theproposalmaynotbeeconomicallyviablebesidesexecutionthereofwilltakeconsiderabletimetotakedecisionaboutpelletizationplantitslocation,arrangementfortransportationofparalitopelletizationplant&pelletstoThermalPowerStations.Fromthenationalpointofviewtheeconomicfeasibilityoftheproposedalternatemaynotbejustified.ToillustratethispointthecaseofPunjabmaybereferredhere.25yearsagotogenerateelectricitybyusingpaddystubbleasfuelaBioThermalPowerPlantwassetupatvillageJalkheri,FatehgarhSahib,Punjab.

Bio thermal power plant:10MWBio-massBasedPowerPlantwassetupintheyear1992atvillageJalkheri,FatehgarhSahibwithpaddystrawasfuel.Theplantisoperationalsince2001,afterPSEBentered intoa lease-cum-powerpurchaseagreementwith JalkheriPowerPrivate Limited (JPPL).TheoriginalsystemwasinstalledbyBHELi.e.firingtheboilerwithpaddystrawinbaledform,theplant used to create innumerable problems as fly ash,melting, snagging, super heater choking,clinkerisation,drop inboiler temperaturedue tomoisture in thebales,etc.Hence, the fuelwaschangedfrompaddystrawtoricehusk,woodchips,cottonwaste,etc.,inmixedformorricehuskalonetoachievethedesiredparameters.Thetotalrequirementofbiomassisestimatedat82,500MT/annumat100%capacityutilizationforoptimumplantactivity.CropresiduesareboughtfromthefarmersatRs.35perquintalwhichisnotaremunerativepriceforthefarmers.Electricitygeneratedthroughthismechanismisfedtothegrid,deprivingthevillagerstousetheelectricityfromtheplantfordevelopmentofvillageeconomy&theirprosperity.

Generation of electricity through parali Based Gassifier power plant: TheotheralternatetoproduceelectricpowerthroughuseofparaliistosetupGassifieratthevillagelevel.Theappropriatecapacityoftheplantcouldbe32Kwt.Theplantwouldconsume1.5ton(15Quintal)ofpaddystubbleadayattherateof60kgperhour.At90%efficiencytheplantwouldgenerate692kwhelectricityperdayand20760kwhinamonth.Inadditiontoelectricitytheplantwouldproducecharcoal@rateof20percentoftheparalifeedof1.5tonaday.Charcoalisconvertedintobriquettesfordomesticorcommercial use.

Therequirementofparali,@1.5tonaday,foramonthwouldbe45ton(450quintals)whichcouldbecollectedfromthefieldsaroundthevillage.Foroneyeartherequirementwouldbe540tons(5400quintals).Thiscouldbecollectedbythepeopleofthevillage.Howeverduetoacuteshortageofmanpowerinthevillagesthismaybedifficulttoachieve.BesidesdifficultiesincollectionoftheparalimanuallythepaddystubblesaretobecutintosmallpiecesforfeedingintoGassifier.Forthispurposethereisaneedtoinstallashredderorchaffcutterasshownbelow:


InordertosustainoperationofGassifierforoneyearthereisaneedtocollectparalitothetuneof5400quintal. In thepresentcircumstanceswiththescarcityofManpowerthesolutiontotheproblemhastobefoundout.Thisproblemcanberesolvedbytheuseofthemachinescurrentlydeployedforcollectionofthewheatstrawfromthefield.ThedeviceislocallyknownasReaper.

Use of Paddy ReaperMachine: Presently the farmers collect the leftover paddy straw from thefieldsbyusingReaperMachineattachedwithatractorandcustomizedtrolley.Withtheuseofthismechanicaldevice,onecancollectupto24quintalsofpaddystrawfromanacrewithoutthehelpofhumanhands.Reapercancutleftoverparalifrom8acresaday.ThePicturebelowpresentstheviewofReaperMachine:


Chapter – 3 INTERVENTION & DIRECTION By NATIONAL

AUTHORITIEs & THEIR IMPACT

InordertocheckseriousairpollutioncausedbyburningofParali inDelhiNCRandneighboringStates,variousNationalAuthoritieshaveintervenedfromtimetotime.TheyhaveissueddirectionstotheCentral&StatesGovernmentsandConstitutedCommitteestoworkouteffectivealternativeswhichmaybeadoptedbythefarmersinPunjab,HaryanaandWesternUttarPradesh.TheAuthoritiesare:

hon’ble Supreme Court (SC): Hon’ble Supreme Court taking note of the seriousness of theairpollution inDelhiNCRhaspassedorderon06/02/2017afterhearingof thepetitionNo (CS)13029/1985.TheHon’bleSupremeCourtobservedthemajorcausesofairpollutionandissueofhealthimpactinthecapitalofthecountry.TheHon’bleCourtnotedthefactinthereportsubmittedbytheEnvironmentPollutionControlAuthority(EPCA)thatlevelofPM2.5hadreachedabout14timesofthestandardon05-11-2016andthereexistsinthenatureofapublichealthemergencyontheissueofhealthimpactofairpollutionEPCAreferredastudyconductedbyCentralPollutionControl Board in 2008. Considering all facts, Hon’ble Supreme Court directed all ConcernedAuthoritiesnamelyGovernmentofDelhiaswellasGovernmentofNCRi.e,GovernmentofHaryana,RajasthanandUttarPradeshalongwithCPCBtoholdajointmeetingwithinaperiodoftwoweeksandthereaftercomeupwithonecomprehensiveplanmergingallthreeplans.EarlieralsoorderwaspassedbytheHon’bleCourton02-12-2016and25-11-2016relatingtosettingupPollutionUnderControlCertificate(PUC)CentersinDelhi.

FromtheabovedirectiontheconcernoftheHighestCourtofthecountryisverymuchapparentnevertheless the compliance of the order largely depends on the initiatives of the concernedagencies.

National Green tribunal (NGt): ForpreventionofpaddystubbleburninginPunjab,Haryana,UttarPradesh,Rajasthan&DelhiNGTpassedanorderon5thNovember2015.TheNGTorderstipulatesimposingoffineondefaulterfarmers.ThefinerangesfromRs.2500onthelandholdingof0.80hectare,Rs5000for2hectareandRs.15000forlandholdingabove2hectaretopreventfarmersfromburningpaddystubbleinthefields.SubsequentlyNGTDirectedtheGovernmentofPunjab,Haryana,Rajasthan,UttarPradeshandDelhi to submit anActionPlan for controllingburningofparali. It is alreadymore than2yearsbutburning incidents in these statesarenot stoppedbutcontinuouslyreported.

NItI aayog: NitiAayoghadsetupaTaskForceonActionPlanforBio-massManagementinDecember2016.TheTaskForcewasheadedoverbytheAdditionalSecretary,MinistryofEnvironmentForestandClimateChange.ConfederationofIndianIndustry(CII),CollaboratedwithNitiAayoginworkingoutthealternatives.TaskForceworkedoutvariousoptionsformanagementofpaddystrawand


their costs and subsidies requirement. The report was submitted in September 2017. Howevertechnicallyfeasibleandworkablealternativewhichthefarmerscouldacceptwasnotputforward.

Ministry of New & renewable energy, Government of India (MNre): OnthedirectionofMNRE,NTPCisofferingtopurchasepaddystubblesinbulktouseitinThermalPowerPlantsforgenerationofelectricitytocontrolburningofparali.TherearesixThermalPowerStationsinthenorthernpartofthecountry.NTPChasofferedRs.5500pertonofpaddystubbles.Howevertheyhavealsostatedthatparali in its raw formcannotbeusedas such in theboilersof thePowerPlants.Theparalistubbleshavetobeconvertedintopellets.Accordingly,firstthereisaneedtoconvertparaliintopelletsbeforeitisusedintheboiler.Thisrequiresnecessarymodificationsintheboilerdesignsofthepowerplantsaswellassettingupofpelletisationplants inthevillages.Forsettingupofthepelletisationplantsadequatelandistobeidentified,getallocatedorpurchased.NTPC’srequirementofparaliwouldbe10,000to15,000tonsperday.Thisamountofcropstubbleisrequiredtobecutandremovedfromthefield&transportedtothepelletisationplants.Thiswholeprocesscannotbecompletedinthreeweekstimeframerequiredtohavethefieldsreadyforthenextcrop.Thisoptionmaynotachievethedesiredgoalasmaterializationofthisprocessofsettingupofpelletisationplantsandmodificationofboilerswouldtakeconsiderabletimeandwouldalsoinvolvehugeinvestment.Moreoverthemodificationoftheboilersisnotapracticaloption.

PMo Panel of experts: MinistryofEnvironment,ForestandClimateChangesetupaSubcommitteeoftheHighLevelTaskForceforpreventionofstubbleburninginHaryana,PunjabandUttarPradeshon4thDecember2017 to consider variousoptions forpreventionof stubbleburning andmakeRecommendations. The options recommended by the subcommittee are focused on the use ofmachinesforsowingofthewheatcropwithstubblesremaininginthefield.ThemachineswhicharedeployedforthispurposeareRotavatorandHappyseeder.Thesemachinesaremainlyusedforsowingofwheatwithpaddystrawremainingasmulchonthefield.

Applicationofthesemachineswouldraisemanyissuestobetackledbythefarmers.Thesearethedecompositionofthestrawleftonthefield,visibilityofthesproutingoftheseeds,theirimpactonyield.ThechallengebeforetheadministrationintheaffectedStatesistoprovidethesemachinesinapackagetofarmersatthepriceswhicharecosteffective.

AsasolutiontotheseproblemsthePanelconstitutedbyPMOhasrecommendedthatGovernmentshouldgivesubsidyof50%tofarmersand75%toCooperative&CustomerHiringCenters(CHCS)formedbySelfHelpandFarmers InterestGroups.CooperativeSocieties&CHCShavetobuytheagriculturalequipmentandmachinesthatareusedformanagingpaddystrawinbulk&rentthemouttofarmersforstubblemanagementattherateprescribedbytheStateGovernment.AlthoughintheUnionBudgetof2018anallocationofRs.1140crorehasbeenmadeforprovidingsubsidytothefarmersforpurchasingthemachines.

These machines are required by the farmers for sowing the wheat crop only in the month ofNovember.Thismaynoteconomicallyjustify50percentinvestmentbythefarmersinpurchaseoftheHappySeeder.Theycannotaffordtoblocktheirscaresfinancialresourcesinthedeviceasithas


averylimiteduseintheentireyear.Furthersowingoperationsaretobeperformedintheshortperiodof20daysandHappySeedercannotbeletouttootherfarmersbecauseeveryfarmerhastocompletesowingoperationssimultaneously.

Fromtheforegoingdelineationsitisapparentthatamongstvariousalternativessuggested,themosteffectiveandproductivealternateistheuseofparaliforgenerationofelectricity.Thiswillpreventburning of parali on the field, avoid resultant consequences of air pollution, controlwastage ofnationalwealth,checkdegradationofsoilandwillhelptoincreaseproductivityofland.

In thiscontext itwillbe relevant toanalyze indetail theadvantagethrough installationofparalibasedGassifier at village level to produce electricity. Itwill not only provide a primemover forgrowthofthevillageeconomybutwillenableachievementoftheobjectiveofimportantNationalMissionsasannouncedbytheHon’blePrimeMinisteri.e,SwatchBharat(utilizingheapsofgarbageanddomesticwasteasfuel),Creationofjobopportunitiesinvillages(throughdirectemploymentandjobsinvalueadditionprocesses),EnsuringJanBhagidaari(achieveinvolvementofthevillagersincollectionandutilizationofparaliinGassifierandinmakingofBriquettes&Pellets)andultimatelyfacilitatingaccrualofDoubleIncometothefarmersby2022(throughvalueadditionofthevillageproduce&directmarketingthereof).


Chapter - 4THE PROJECT

GENERATION OF ELECTRICITy AT VILLAGE LEVEL THROUGH 32 KWt GaSSIFIer

Background

The Biomass- based Gassifier technology carries an Environment- friendly and sustainablesolutiontomeetthepowerrequirementinrural India. Itcanreducetheuseoffossil fuels in

villageapplications.Italsoprovideslivelihoodopportunitiestothelocalpopulationthroughvariousactivities–generation,processingandoperationoftheplant.TheelectricityproducedfromaParali(Biomass)-basedGasifiersystemcanbeusedforlightingofhouses,poweringirrigationpumps,andoperatingmachinessuchasMilkChillers,AttaChakki,OilExpeller,RiceHulleretc.

Potential of Biomass

Themostimportantadvantageofbiomassisthatitexistseverywhereinruralareasinenormousquantityofthecountry.Theagriculturegenerates,residuals likebagasse(fibers)fromsugarcane,strawfromrice,hullsandnutshells,aswellasmanurelagoonsfromcattle,poultryandhogformsareusable.Similarly,thetimberindustryhasalottooffer.Woodwasteslikesawdust,timberslashandmillscrapsareconsideredorganicmaterials.Evenincities,paperandyardwastesareusable.Fully


utilizedbiomassreducespollutioninundergroundwaterbodiesbyoffsettingtheamountofwasteinlandfills.Methaneandotherpoisonousgasescontaininghydrocarboncalorificcontentsfromdeadorganicmatterscanbefoundinlandfillsandwatertreatmentplants.Thesecanbecollectedandconvertedintofuelssuitableforgeneratingelectricity.

economic Benefits

Ruraleconomieswillgrowbecauseofthedevelopmentofalocalindustrytoconvertbiomassintoelectricity.Becausebiomassfeedstocksarebulkyandcostlytotransport,conversionfacilitieswillbelocatedwherethecropisgrown.Thatmeansmorepeoplehavechancesofgettingemployed.Farmerswillseetheirincomesrise.Thankstothesenewmarketsforbothagriculturalwastesandcropsthatcanbegrownsustainablyonmarginalland.Asnewmarketsarecreated,theruraleconomywillbecomemorediversified.

energy Benefits

Energy producers and consumerswill have an available renewable energy optionwith uniquelydesirable characteristics.Biomasshas thegreatestpotentialof any renewableenergyoption forbaseloadelectricpowerproduction.It isalsotherenewableresourcewiththemostpromiseforproducingeconomicallycompetitiveliquidtransportationfuels.Co-productionfacilitieswillallowtheproductionofelectricitywhenitisneededandethanolwhenitisnotacting,ineffect,as‘’seasonalpeaking’’facilities.Theenergysecurityofanationwillbesignificantlyenhanced.

Withsustainableagriculturalpractices,Biomass-fuelscouldreplacehalformoreofthenation’sentirecurrentlevelofgasolineconsumption.BurningnewbiomasscontributesnonewCarbondioxidetotheatmospherebecauseifwereplantharvestedbiomass,carbondioxideisreturnedtothecycleofnewgrowth.Bioconversionand thermal conversion techniques for transformingbiomass intofuelsarecurrentlyunderdevelopmentatenergyresearchlaboratories.ThesenewtechnologieswillreduceourrelianceonoilandcoalwithnonetadditionofCarbondioxidetotheatmosphere.NewThermalconversiontechniquescoupledwithchemicalcatalysisaremakingitpossibletoexploitthepreviouslydiscardedligninfractionbyconvertingitintovaluablechemicalsthatwenowgetfromnon-renewablefossilsources.

environmental Benefits

Agriculturallandthatmightotherwisebeconvertedtoresidentialorindustrialusebecausewewillneed fewerand feweracres tomeet themarketdemand for foodcanbeused togrowbiomasscropsthatwillrestoresoilcarbon,reduceerosionandchemicalrunoff,andenhancewildlifehabitat.Perennialenergycropscanbeharvestedwithoutdamagetotherootstructureandthuscontinuetoserveasasoilstabilizerandstreambufferandhabitatforwildlife.TheuseofbiomasswillgreatlyreduceGreenHouseGasemissions. Fossils fuels removecarbon that is storedundergroundandtransferittotheatmosphere.Inacombustionsystem,biomassreleasesCarbondioxideasitburns,


butbiomassalsoneedsCarbondioxidetogrowthuscreatingaclosedcarboncycle.InaGassifier-fuelcellcombination,thereisanetreductionofcarbondioxide.Inaddition,substantialquantitiesofcarboncanbecapturedinthesoilthroughbiomassrootstructures,creatinganetcarbonsink.

Theproblemofpoorquality&lowavailabilityofelectricitysupplytoremotevillagesispreventingthegrowthofcommonpeasantswhoareproducingfoodforusandarethemselvesdevoidofitforwantofaremunerativetechnicalsolution.ThereforethisprojecthasbeenconceivedtomitigatethisproblemwiththesupportofGovt.fundingandcontinuouseffortofNGOs.Thenon-conventionalsourcesofenergythroughuseofbiomasshaveamacrobenefitofproducingsmallpoweratdiverseloadswithout increasing theproductionofCO2 andsimultaneoususeofwastegenerated in thevillage.Itwillservetheoverallpurposeatnationalandregionallevel.

Brief Project Description

TheBiomasscomprisingofcropresiduecattleexcreta,garbage&agriculturalwaste/trasharethesourceforenergyproductionthroughpilotplant.ThisrawmaterialisavailableinabundanceintheproposedvillageeitherfreeoronmodestcostaboveRe.2.00kginclusiveofcollection/transportationtotheprojectsite.Therawmaterialisenrichedbymanualseparationofruble,stones, plastic, glass &metal before laying down on the ground for sun drying. It attains acalorificvalueof1400-1800kcal/kg.ThebiomassisthenmanuallyfedintotheGassifierattherateof60kg/hr,whereintheincinerationtakesplace.Thehotgasesproducedwillrunprimemoverandrotatethegeneratorwhichwilldirectlyproduces3phaseLTpower.TheLTpoweristransmittedthroughanoverheaddistributionnetwork.Theprojectwillbeimplementedata village in theblockwhere there are incidents of Parali burning. It is libely that the villagehasbeenelectrifiedsometimeagobuttill recentlytherehasbeennoeconomicgrowthduetoerraticpower supply. Electricity is availablehardly for2hours in theeveningat veryoddhours and6-8hours during theday and the timing is not very certain.Due tooddhours ofpowersupplychildrenarenotabletopursuetheirstudyproperlynorthereisanysustainableeconomicdevelopmentinthevillage.

This problem canbe solvedby exploitationof locally available crop residue (Parali)which canbe used as fuel for power generation. The plant can cover 700 households, for domestic &StreetLightingduringdarkhours.Consideringthebenefitoflightforeducationofthechildren,convenience of the housewives in the kitchen and domesticwork, it is estimated that certainnumberofhouseholdswhichhavenotbeenconnectedwouldcertainlygoinforpowerconnectionforlightingpurposes.Furthertakingaverage13wattCFLconnectionperhouseholdatapaymentofRs5/- forfivehoursadayequivalent to thecostofkeroseneoilpresentlyused for lightingpurposestheproposalisverymuchfeasible.TothisifloadofvillagecommercialShops,Schools,Panchayat,Establishment,Attachakkies,andPumpsisaddedinthatcase32kwtBiomassbasedPowerSystemwouldbesufficienttosustainalltheseactivities.The32kwtcapacityofBiomassBasedsystemiscalculatedaspertable I.


Project Objective

TheProject ishighlybeneficial forvillages inoffgridareasbuthavingrestrictedsupplyforafewhoursatnightand6-8hoursduringdaytimethattooatnofixedtime.Ithelpsinrunningirrigationpumps,AttaChakki&Ricehullerstomeetbasicrequirementofthevillagers

The villagers en-mass have favored the idea of utilizing the available biomass for generation ofelectricityofanyotherrenewablesourceofenergy.Theproposedprojectwillsupplylightingloadduringdarkhoursi.e.7pmto4am&tothecollectiveneedloadofthevillagersforAttaChakki,Pumphouseduringdaytime.TheenergymanagementfromthebiomassplantwillbebettermanagedbypromotingtheuseofCFLof13wtinsteadof40wtincandescentlamp.

Table - I

Sincethetotalcapacityoftheplantwillbe32KWT,theloadcateringwillbeasunder:

Dark hour Lighting

700Households load@13wtCFLbulbperhousewillcoverkwloadamountingto43%capacityutilizedofthepilotplantatnight.

Commercial load during day time as per table given below:

estimates of load in a model village

Non- Commercial / Dark hours

LIGhtING LOaD No. S QUaNtItY Total

Households* 400*Bulb13wtCFL-2Fan100wt-1PerHousehold

25.2kwtDURINGDARK

HOURSStreetlights 30

15wtLEDBulbPerStreetLight

0.45kwt

50 percent households will avail power Connection.Commercial/ Day hours

Shops 102CFLBulbof15wt1Fanof100wt

1.30kwt DuringDayHours

Sawmill 01 2.0kwt 2.0kwt DOAtta-chakkies 02 5.0kwt 10.0kwt DO

Schools 02 2.0kwt 4.0kwt DOPumpingSets 2 50kwt 10.0kwt DO

ToTaL 27.30 kwtPer load diversity 32 kwt Generator


execution of the Gassifier plant Under Bot Scheme

TheexecutionofthepilotGassifierplantshouldpreferablybecarriedoutbytheagencywhichhasexperience ineithermanufacturingof theGassifierorerectionof theplant.GaneshEngineeringWorks(GEW)isaccreditedbytheMinistryofNew&RenewableEnergy(MNRE)GovernmentofIndiaasmanufacturerofGassifiers.Theyhavealreadysuppliedover500GassifiertogeneratepowerinBihar&otherplaces.TheyarealsoexportingtheseGassifiersabroad.ConsideringtheirbackgroundGEWwouldbeappropriateagencytosetupthepilotGassifierplantatvillagelevelinonedistricteachofPunjab&Haryana,whichisinthenewsforparaliburning.

GaneshEngineeringWorks(GEW)manufacturetheequipmentsatdistrictBuxar(Bihar).GEWwillsetuptheplantunderBOTSchemeandwilloperatetheplantforthreemonths.ForoperatingtheplanttheywillformaSelfHelpGroupbyinvolvingthebeneficiaries&otherinterestedyouthofthevillageandtheywillalsotrainthemembersofSelfHelpGroupduringtheperiodofoperationoftheplant.GEWalongwithoperationofplantandwillextendtheirexpertiseinmaintenanceoftheplantduringtheperiodofoperation.Howevertheywillalsoextendassistanceformaintenancetothebeneficiariesafterhandingovertheplanttothevillagersforoperation.


Chapter – 5 OUTCOME OF THE FIELD VIsITs

Theprimaryobjectiveofthefieldvisitwastoknowthebackgroundofparaliburningwhich iscausingAirPollution.Inordertoconducttheproposedstudyadetailedprogramwaschalked

outtostudyindetailthevariousissuestobecoveredunderthesubject.Theprogramofthefieldvisitcoveredthefollowingareas.

Visit to Buxar District (Bihar)

Objective of the visitwas to acquaintwith the technology, actual operation of theGassifier forgenerationofelectricityanditsapplicationindifferentprocesses.

Visit to Meerut District (UP)

Toascertainthemagnitudeoftheproblem–ParaliBurningintheWesternpartofUttarPradesh.

Meeting with District Level Officers• ChiefDevelopmentOfficer(CDO)• DistrictAgricultureOfficer(DAO)• DistrictDevelopmentPanchayatiRajOfficer(DDPO)

Visit to Patiala District (Punjab)Meeting with District Level Officers • OfficialsofPunjabPollutionControlBoard• DeputyCommissioner,Patiala• DivisionalCommissionerPatiala&RoparDivision• VisittoVillagesofPatialaBlock

Objective of the Visit of Buxar District (Bihar): InBuxar,GassifiersaremanufacturedbyGaneshEngineeringWorks (GEW). The objective of the visitwas to understand the Technology used inmanufacturingoftheGassifierplant,functioningoftheplant,itseffectiveness,typeandqualityofthefuel(rawmaterial)whichisusedasasourceofprimaryenergy(fuel)forgenerationofelectricity.

Another objective of the visit was to witness on ground the operation of the Gassifier plant.Accordinglyavisit to theplantwasorganizedbyGEW.TheGassifierplantwassetupbyGEWatNavaNagar,40KMawayfromBuxar.AsexplainedbyGEW,theobjectivetosetuptheplantwastodemonstratetheapplicationoftheelectricpowergeneratedbytheGassifier.Thefuelusedintheplantwaspaddystubbleintheformofchoppedpieces.

ThestubblebalescannotbefeddirectlyintotheGassifierandhencethestubblehastobecutintosmallpieceswiththehelpofashredderorchaffcutter.6Kgofchoppedstubbleisfedintothehopper


oftheGassifieratatime.Atthisrate60Kgofparaliisfed10timesintotheplantinonehour.Feedingthestubbleisdonebyasingleoperator,whoisskilledandconversantwiththetechnologyoftheplant.TheoperatornotonlyfeedsparaliintotheGassifierbutwasalsomonitorsthefunctioningoftheGassifier.Theoperator’sjobresponsibilitiesincludethesmoothfunctioningoftheGassifierrightfromfeedingParaliintothehopperuptooperationoftheGenerator.Thisincludedworkingofthemainmachinei.e,Hopper,Reactor,FourfiltersandGeneratorof32kwt.

TheGassifierPowerPlantconsumes60Kgstubbleinanhourandatthisrate15Quintalsin24hours.Itgenerates692KWHofelectricityin24hoursat90percentefficiency.TheelectricitygeneratedbytheplantisutilizedbytheAttaChakkisetupforgrindingoftheflourwithcompletesupportingequipmentseparatorknownasChatna.ThecapacityoftheAttaChakkiwas125kg/hr.AtthisratetheAttaChakkicouldgrind1tonofflourduring8hours.RepresentativeofGEWexplainedthatotherprocesssuchasOilExpeller,RiceHuller,etc.couldalsobeoperatedconcurrentlywiththeelectricitygeneratedbythePlant.

Objective of the Visit to Meerut District (Up):ToascertainthemagnitudeoftheobservationmadebyNGTandOtherAgenciesthatParaliBurningisreportedintheWesterndistrictsofUttarPradeshalongwithPunjab&Haryana.WiththisendinviewthevisittoMeerutaCentraldistrictofwesternUP,wasundertaken.AccordinglythemeetingswiththeChiefDevelopmentOfficer(CDO)&DistrictAgricultureOfficer(DAO)Mr.PramodSirohiwereheld.ThediscussionwithDAOcoveredthebroadrangeofquestionsi.e,Paddyproductionandresultantproductionofpaddystubbleinthedistrict.Hewasalsorequestedtoassistinselectionofvillagewhereburningofparalitakesplace.HetoldthattherearefourblocksinMeerutdistricti.e,Mawana,Kharkhoda,ParikshitgarhandHastinapur.

Mr.Sirohi,DAOtoucheduponvariousaspectspertainingtocroppingpatternfollowedinMeerutandotherdistrictsofwesternUP.HeinformedthatthemaincropinalmostallblocksofMeerutdistrictisSugarCane.HesaidthatfarmersprefertogrowSugarCane.ThemainreasonforgrowingsugarcaneisthatfarmersareabletoselltheirproducetotheSugarMill@Rs.325QuintalsMSPFixedbytheGovernment.Hesaidthat,Farmersaresowingthenewvarietyofsugarcane-CO328whichisanewvariety.WithbettermanagementthefarmersaregettingtheSugarCaneyieldof500to800quintalsperhectare.SugarcontentofthisvarietyofSugarcaneis11to12percentagainstearliervarietyofsugarcanewhichgave7to8percent.

MajorityoffarmersarepreferringtogrowsugarcaneforreasonthatSugarCaneisatwoyearscropandyieldsagoodreturnontheirproduce.Furtheritisnotaffectedbyexcessrains,hailstormsandothernaturalcalamities.Mr.Sirohiinformedthatbulkoftheareainthedistrictisundersugarcane,harvestingthereofisdonemanually.Paddyisgrownonselectivebasismostlyforselfconsumptionandharvestedmanually.Forthisreasontherearehardlyanycasesofparaliburning.

AboutburningofParali inthedistrictsofWesternUP,Mr.Sirohi(DAO)saidthatunlikePunjab&HaryanathefarmersofwesterndistrictsofUPby&largeopt.forthiscropbecauseityieldsabetterreturn.Government has fixedMSP for Sugar Cane@Rs. 325/quintal. Harvesting of Sugar Caneisdonemanually.BesidesCombineHarvester isbeingusedby farmersonselectivebasisdue to


fragmentationoflandholdingtheuseofcombinehaslimitations.Farmersgofortraditionalsystemofharvesting.

Field visit to villages in Mawana Block: Ataura&Sandhanvillagewerevisitedtoascertaintherealityonground.Inboththevillages’majorityofthefarmersrepliedtothequerythattheyaregrowingSugarCane.TheysaidPaddyisgrownfordomesticconsumptiononlyinfewcases.InboththevillagemeetingwasarrangedwiththevillagePradhansbyADOShriInderPalSingh.

Objective of the Survey of patiala District (punjab):Patialadistrictisoneofthemaindistricts,wheretherearelargenumbersofParaliburningcases.Thereare8blocksinthedistrictand1000villages.Thereistwocropsrotation–RabiandKharif.FarmerssowwheatasRabicrop&riceasKharif.Inboththecropscombineharvesterareusedforharvesting.RabicropofWheatissowninNovember&harvestedinMarch,whereasriceissowninJune&harvestedinOctober.Thereisenoughgapoftimeforsowingofrice.Afterharvestingofriceveryshortwindowoftimeisleftforsowingthewheathardly20daystime.Duringthisshortperiodfarmersarerequiredtofirstclearthefieldsofpaddystubbleandthendosowing.

In theabsenceofanyassistancetechnicalorfinancial fromtheGovernmentandotherAgenciesinsolvingtheproblem,Farmerstaketheshortcutthrougheconomicalternatetoburntheparalionlargescale.ThefireintheopenfieldsgeneratessmokethatpollutestheairfirstintheareaandthenitisblowntoDelhi–NCRandotherCitiesoftheneighboringStates.ThisisthepictureofAirPollutiongatheredwhilevisitingthe6villagesofPatialablock.

Meeting with top official of Punjab Pollution Control Board, Deputy Commissioner Patiala &CommissionerPatialafurtherrevealed&confirmedthefactobtainedfromthevillagersof6villagesofPatialablock.

NameoftheCoveredVillages–Sidhuwal,Jasowal,KheriManian,Balipur,Dugat&Lachkaniwerevisitedtoascertainthereasonsforburningofparali.ThefirstmeetingwasheldatvillageSidhuwalwhichwasattendedbyelderlypeopleofthevillage.

Theyindicatedthatfarmersareinterestedtoswitchovertoothercropsfrompaddy,buttheyarehesitanttocomeforwardduetoGovernmentinactiontocoverthesecropsunderMSP.ThecropswhichtheycouldgrowarePotato,TomatoandothervegetableswhichcouldbegrownduringKharifseason.

The Constitution of the Team

The Teamwhich conducted the Field Surveywas headedbyDr. K.D.Gupta, Chairman InstituteofAppliedSystemsandRuralDevelopment&ASSOCHAMNationalCouncilonWasteandWaterManagement. Mr. Sandeep Jain, Joint Director ASSOCHAM, Head ASSOCHAM Foundation forCorporateSocialResponsibility(AFCSR),Ms.YogitaGupta,DirectorCorporateSocialResponsibility(CSR)IASRD,Mr.ShivankPandey,Sr.ExecutiveIASRD,Mr.Paritosh&Mr.DeepakJoshi-AssistantDirector,ASSOCHAMweretheothermembersoftheteam.


RECOMMENDATIONs

BackgroundofairpollutioninDelhiNCRandotherneighboringStatesofNorthernIndiahasbeenelaboratelydelineatedintheforegoingpages.Howevercentralroleisplayedbyburningofcrop

residuewhichiscausingairpollutioninthenorthernstatesofthecountry.Airpollutionhasseriousimpactonhealthandisthe5thlargestkillerinthecountry.InDelhiNCRelderlypeopleandchildrenaremostaffectedbyseriousillnessescausedbyairpollutantsthatpervadetheairpeoplebreathe,resultantly30,000peopledieprematurelyeveryyear.

Therearemultiplefactorswhichareresponsibleforpollutingtheair.Theseare-vehicularpollution,increasedvolumeofdustparticlesduetoperennialconstructionactivities,deficientqualityofroadsandunorganizedmechanizationofagriculturalprocessesanddepletionofgreenerydue tomasscuttingoftreeswhichmopupcarbondioxide.ThisaspectisreflectedbydailyAirQualityIndexofDelhiNCR.

BurningofParaliparticularly inPunjab&HaryanaincreasestheintensityofairpollutioninDelhi&NCRinthemonthsofOctoberandNovemberwhichcoincidewiththeadventofwinter.Atthistimeparticles remain suspended in the air for longer durationdue to the lower temperature&windspeedaswellashigherrelativehumidity.ThefarmersinthesestatesresortofburningofcropresidueundercompulsionofinsufficienttimebetweenharvestingofpaddyattheendofOctoberandsowingofwheatinthebeginningofNovember.Thishasthebackgroundofmechanizationwhencombineharvesterwasintroduced10–15yearsagointhestatesofPunjab&Haryanaforharvestingthewheat&paddycrops.Afterharvestingofwheatandpaddythecombineleavesstubblesof1’to1.5’heightinthefield.Theleftoverstubblesaretoberemovedfromthefieldtopavethewayforsowingthenextcrop.

Solutionoftheproblemliesinutilizationofpaddystrawthroughproductivealternatives.SomeofthealternatesrecommendedbyafewresearchinstitutionsincludingIndianAgriculturalResearchInstitute relate toconversionof thecrop residues intoproducts suchas fodder,biogas,bio fuel,compostsandgenerationofelectricity.Howeveralittleprogresshasbeenmadeinthisdirectionsofar.Withtheresultthereishardlyanydentonparaliburning.

Amongstthesuggestedalternateusesofparali,themosteffectivewayistouseitforgenerationofelectricity.TherearetwoalternativestoproduceelectricityfromParali.ItcanbeeitherusedintheexitingThermalPowerPlantsorthroughsettingupofsmallGassifierPowerPlantsatthevillagelevel.

MinistryofNewandRenewableEnergy(MNRE)clearedtheproposalin2016touseparaliwithcoalasfuelinexistingThermalPowerPlants(TPP)intheratioof10:90.HoweverbeforeitcanbeusedasfuelinTPP,Paraliistobeconvertedintopellets.ConversionofParaliintopelletsisaknottyquestion.Presentlythereisnotadequatecapacitytoproducepelletsinthecountry.Furtherpelletisationplantofhighercapacityisnotinexistenceatpresent.Thesettingupofthepelletisationplantwillrequire


hugeinvestmentbesidesfacingtheproblemofselectionandacquisitionoflandforsettingupofthePlant.ThepelletisationplantcanbeinstalledinPunjab&HaryanabecausetransportationofParalitoover10to15Kmforuseasafuelisanunviablepropositionsincemoreenergywillbespentonitstransportationthentheenergyitwouldgenerate.ThisisalsotheconsideredopinionoftheTaskForcesetupbytheNitiAayog.

FurthertheelectricitygeneratedbyThermalPowerPlantsthroughmixuseofParali&coalhastobe transmittedback to thevillages foruse fromwhereparaliwascollected.The transmissionofelectricitywillinvolveabout30percenttransmissionlossesandwouldrequirehugeinvestmentonextensionofsupplylines,settingupofstepdownsubstationsandmaintenancethereof.Executionoftheproposalwill takeconsiderabletimetodecideaboutthecapacityofpelletisationplant itslocation,arrangementfortransportationofparalitopelletisationplant&pelletstoThermalPowerStations.Fromthenationalpointofviewtheproposedalternatemaynotbejustifiedeconomically.

AsanemergingeconomyIndia’sGreenHouseGasemissionsaresettoincreaseasmuchas85%.Indiaaccountsfor6.65percentofglobalemissionsasthirdlargestemitterintheworld.Againstthisbackgroundthereisaneedtotakestepstocontrolrisingemissionlevels.Thiscallsforimmediateinitiative tomeet the increasing energy requirements of the country by non traditional sourcesof energy. It prepared the ground for exploitation of renewable sources of energy. Accordingly,GovernmentofIndiahassetatargetof175GWofrenewableenergygenerationby2022.Itconsistsof100GWSolar,60GWWind,10GWBiomassand5GWothers.ConsideringtheavailabilityofvastpotentialofBio-massinthecountry,availabilityofindigenoustechnology,involvementofshortdurationoftimeininstallationandcommissioningoftheplant,scopeforparticipationofproducersofparali&beneficiariesandurgencytocheckburningofparaliandresultantairpollution,thetargetsetforpowergenerationthroughBiomasscouldbescaledupfrom10GWto35GWby2022.

ThefeasibilityoftheabovemaybeadjudgedfromthefactthatPaddyisproducedin20statesofthecountry.IntheseStates,asperavailableestimates,500milliontonsofparaliisproducedeveryyear.About700kwhofelectricitycanbeproducedbyutilizing1.5tonparaliadaythroughsettingupparalibasedGassifierof32kwtcapacity.TheGassifierwillenabletogenerate267Millionunitsadaytakingintoconsideration80percentutilizationofthepotential.Theelectricenergythusproducedcouldbeutilizedtomeettheincreasingdemandforelectricityinruralareas.TheneedforharnessingtheBiomasspotentialonprioritymaybeseenfromthepointofviewoftheannouncementmadebythePrimeMinistertoprovidefreeelectricityto4crorepeopleby2022.Thiswouldmeanadditionof2000GWCapacityurgently.

Theissueofcontrollingparaliburninghasemergedasaconsequenceofmechanizationofagriculturaloperation.WiththeresultthereisashortwindowoftimeforsowingtheWheatcrop.ThisdurationcanbeextendedbymakingsomeadjustmentsinthecurrentPolicyoftheStateGovt.ofPunjab.ThepresentpolicyrelatestosowingtimeofpaddyinthemonthofJunesothatsowingoperationcouldcoincidewiththearrivalofmonsoon.Thishasbeendonepurelyfromthepointofviewofcheckingdepletingundergroundwaterlevelinthestate.Neverthelessthisaspecthastobelookedintofromthepointofviewofnationallosscausedbyairpollution&Healthcostofremedialmeasures.The


Healthcostsare8timesthatofGovernmentfuelsubsidyinthecountry.HencethefarmersinPunjabmaybeallowedtosowthepaddycropbymidofMay.Thiswillcreateenoughgapoftimebetweenharvestingofpaddyandpreparationofthefieldsforsowingthenextcrop.FurtherStateGovernmentmayalsoencourage the farmers togrowotherKharifandcashcropsofvegetable.However theimmediateprobleminexecutionoftheproposedsuggestionisthattheGovernmenthasnotworkedouttheMinimumSupportPrice(MSP)fortheKharifcrops.

Another alternative to check burning of Parali has been recommended by the Panel of ExpertssetupbyPMO.UndertheschemethecultivatorsarerequiredtosowwheatwiththehelpofanagriculturaldeviceknownasHappySeederasowerthatdoesnotrequirethefieldtobeclearedofcropremnants.Thisimpliesthatsowingofwheatmaybecompletedwithoutburningtheparali.TheonlythingwhichthefarmerhastodoistopurchasetheHappySeederathalfofthepriceRs.1.30Lakh.TheGovernmentwillprovide50%subsidy tobuyHappySeeder. In theUnionBudget2018-19anallocationofRs.1140crorehasbeenmadeforprovidingsubsidytothefarmersforfarmmachines.TheFarmersarerequiredtoPurchaseHappySeederforsowingthewheatcropinthemonthofNovember.Thismaynotbeeconomicallyjustifiedasthefarmerscannotaffordtoblocktheirscarcefinancialresourcesinthedevicewhichhasverylimiteduseintheentireyear.Furthersowingoperationsaretobecompletedwithin20daysmoreoverHappySeedercannotbeletouttootherfarmers,becauseeveryfarmerhastocompletesowingoperationssimultaneouslywithintheshortperiod.

FurtheritappearsthattheadvantagesofHappySeederareexcessivelypublicizedbytheconcernedindustryandnotsupportedbytheextensivefield trials. In thiscontext, thediscussionswith thefarmersofthevillagesinPatialablockmaybeworthmentioninghere.Theydidnotsupporttheideaofusingthedevice.

Theanalysisofmultiplealternativesrecommendedbyvariousresearchinstitutions&committeessetupbytheGovernmentrevealsthattheproblemofburningParali&consequentialairpollutionrevolvesaroundtheissueofremovalofcropresiduesfromthefieldtopavethewayforsowingofthenextcropin20days.Thisistoberesolvedwithouthumanassistanceasthereisacutescarcityofhumanhandsinthesestates.HencethesolutionliesinuseofReaperwhichisextensivelyusedinPunjab&Haryanaforremovalofspeciallyleftoverwheatstubblesafterharvestingbycombines.Reaperconvertsthewheatstrawintosmallpieceswhichisknownasfodderinlocal languageas‘Tudi’.

Reapercanalsobeusedforremovalofleftoverpaddystrawinthefield.ThecapacityoftheReaperistoclearstubblesfrom7-8acreswithin8hourswithouthumanhelp.But italso leaves5”–6”stubblesinthefieldswhichisalsoburntbythefarmersHowever,therewillbeanimpedimentinitsuseduetoretentionofmoistureinthepaddystubbles.ThereforeitisnecessarytodoR&DforimprovingthedesignoftheReaperalongwithbladeswhichcutthestubbles.

FinancialassistanceforR&DoftheexistingReapersmaybeprovidedunderthespecialschemetosubsidizemachineryrequiredbythefarmers.Apart fromthissteptheStateGovernmentmay


relaxthepolicyregardingtimeschedulefollowedbythefarmersforsowingthepaddyinthestate.PresentlythepaddyissowninthemonthofJune,thismaybeadvancedtomiddleofMay,soastoensureadequatetimegapbetweenharvestingofpaddyandsowingofwheat.Theextendedtimemayalsofacilitatedryingofpaddystubble.

AnotheradvantageinusingReaperisthatitcutsthepaddystubblesintosmallpieces.TheoperationofGassifier,makingofbriquettesandpelletsrequirethechoppedpiecesofparali.ThustheapplicationofReaperinclearingofParalistubbleswillsavethecostoninstallationofshredders/chaffcutterforcuttingthestubblebalesintosmallpieces.

Considering the settingupofGassifierat village level forgenerationofelectricity is aneffectivesustainable,affordablealternatetocontrolburningofparaliandresultantairpollution.Itwillalsoprovideadriverofgrowthforpromotionofeconomicactivitiesencouragingvalueadditionofvillageagriproducewhichmayproveinstrumental indoublingthefarmer’s incomebesideskeepingthevillageclean.

InordertoevaluateeffectivenessoftheGassifieritissuggestedtosetuppilotprojectsinthevillageswhichareinthenewsforburningofparaliinPunjab&Haryana.Thesepilotprojectswilldevelopagroundforpromotingawareness,impartingtrainingtotheyouthofthevillageinoperationandmaintenanceoftheplants.


aCKnoWledGement

It is heartening to acknowledge the active support & professional advice of Shri D. S. Rawat,Secretary General ASSOCHAM for entrusting IASRD to conduct the Study on Air Pollution Dueto IneffectiveManagement of Parali. Shri S. C. Tripathi (rtd. IAS), Former SecretaryMinistry ofPetroleum&NaturalGasGovernment&ChiefPatron IASRD, forhisexpertguidanceandadvicethatmadethestudyrelevant inthecontextof the issueswhichariseduetoburningofParali inPunjab&Haryana.ShriSubhashAgarwal,President IASRD forhisvaluablesuggestion&supportthatenabledtimelycompletionofthestudy.OfficialsofMeerutDistrict(UttarPradesh),particularlyMr.PramodSirohi,DistrictAgricultureOfficerforproductivediscussionthatgavevaluableinsightsonthecroppingpatternthatisfollowedatpresentbythefarmersintheWesternDistrictsofUttarPradesh.ADPOoftheMawanablockofMeerutDistrict,whoprovidedassistancebyorganizingthevisittothevillages.Thatimmenselyhelpedinunderstandingthestatusofcroppingpatterninthearea.PanchayatPradhansofPatialablockwhoprovidedinformationmadeitpossibletoanalyzeindepththereasonsforparaliburning.

Support of Shri Arjun Kumar, Director IASRD in reading and correcting the text is very muchappreciatedwhichmade itpossible tocomplete the report intime.ShriAshokPoddar,CEOandShriAnkurPoddar,DirectorProject,GaneshEngineeringWorks(GEW)haveveryactivelyassistedinstudyingvarioustechnicalaspectsofGassifier.TheytookpersonalinterestinorganizingthevisittothesiteswhereGassifierwasinstalledandwasinoperation.Withouttheirhelpin-depthstudyofGassifiercouldhavenotbeenpossible.

ThecontributionoftheIASRDTeamwhichactivelyworkedincarryingoutthesurveyofareasandvillagesinthestatesofUttarPradesh&Punjabisverymuchlaudable.TheTeamincludedMs.YogitaGupta,Director(CSR),Mr.ShivankPandey,SeniorExecutiveandMs.AnjaliRaghav,OfficeExecutive.TheiractivesupportwasofimmensehelpincompletionoftheReportinthepresentform.


ABOUT AssOCHAM ASSOCHAMinitiateditsendeavorofvaluecreationforIndianIndustrysinceitsinceptionin1920.Havinginitsfoldmorethan400Chambers&tradeassociation,andservingmorethan4,50,000membersacrosscountry.Today,ASSOCHAMhasemergedasthefountain-headofknowledgeforIndianIndustry,whichisallsettoredefinethedynamicsofgrowth&developmentinthetechnologydrivenageof‘knowledgebasedeconomy’.ASSOCHAMderivesitsstrengthfromitspromoterchambersandotherindustry,regionalchambers,associationsspreadalloverthecountry.

ASSOCHAMvisionistoempowerIndianenterprisebyinculcatingknowledgethatwillbethecatalystofgrowthinthebarrierlesstechnologydrivenglobalmarketandhelpthemupscale,alignandemergeasformidableplayerinrespectivebusinesssegments.

With themission to represent organ of Corporate India, ASSOCHAM articulates the genuine, legitimate needs andinterestsofitsmembers.Itsmissionistoimpactthepolicyandlegislativeenvironmentsoastofosterbalancedeconomic,industrialandsocialdevelopment.Webelieveeducation,IT,Health,CorporateSocialresponsibilityandenvironmenttobethecriticalsuccessfactors.

the associated Chambers of Commerce & Industry of India (aSSOChaM)ASSOCHAMCorporateOffice:5,SardarPatelMarg,Chanakyapuri,NewDelhi–110021Tel:011–46550555(Huntingline)*Fax:011–23017008/09,[email protected],www.assocham.org

ABOUT MsDGsTheprimeobjectiveofMillenniumSustainableDevelopmentGoalistoeradicatepovertyinallitsformsanddimensionsincludingextremepovertythatisthegreatestglobalchallengeandanindispensablerequirementforsustainabledevelopment.TheSDG2030includes17Goalswith169targets.IndiaasamembercountryoftheUnitedNationsandsignatorytoUNSustainableDevelopmentSummitaimsatrealizingthehumanrightsofallandtoachievegenderequalityandempowermentofwomenbystimulatingactionintheareasofcriticalimportanceofhumanity:the“economic,socialandenvironmental”.

MillenniumSustainableDevelopmentGoal focusonareas likeendofpoverty,sustainableproductionandconsumption,healthandwell-being,genderequality,cleanwaterandsanitation,affordablecleanenergy,reducedinequalities,socialpeaceandjustice,developmentofpartnerships,climatechangeaction,lifebelowwater,lifeonland,decentworkandeconomicgrowth,industry,innovation,infrastructure,sustainablecitiesandcommunitiesetc.

Foundation For Millennium Sustainable Development Goal (MSDG)C–9/9848VasantKunj,NewDelhi–110070,Landline:011–26132520/27Email:[email protected],http://foundationformsdgs.com/

ABOUT IAsRDThemainobjectiveoftheInstituteofAppliedSystemsandRuralDevelopment(IASRD)istoactascatalystinpromotingdevelopmentofruralareasthroughappliedsystemsandappropriatetechnologies.Sinceitsinceptionin1982,IASRDisengagedindevelopmentprogramsrangingfromformulationandtrainingofSelfHelpGroupsandtheirdevelopmentintomicro-enterprises,PromotionofBio-diesel,EnvironmentProtection,AfforestationPrograms,Villageelectrificationthrough exploitation of Solar Energy and Bio-mass based Gassifier, Conservation of Natural Resources, WomenEmpowerment,andSkillDevelopment.

Institute of applied Systems and rural Development (IaSrD)Office:E-6,Sector–3,Noida–201301Tel:0120-2443381Email:[email protected],Website:www.iasrd.org


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2. Https://Www.Statista.Com/Statistics/765691/India-Area-Of-Cultivation-For-Rice/

3. Http://Www.Downtoearth.Org.In/News/Crop-Burning-Punjab-Haryana-S-Killer-Fields-55960

4. https://www.statista.com/statistics/765691/india-area-of-cultivation-for-rice/

5. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/how-stubble-burning-is-the-biggest-culprit-for-poor-air-quality-in-delhi-a-ground-report-from-haryana-punjab/articleshow/61609110.cms

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7. Milham,N.Kumar,P.,Crean,J.andSingh,R.P.(2014).Policyinstrumentstoaddressairpollutionissuesinagriculture: implications forHappySeeder technologyadoption in India. FinalReport. FR2014-17.AustralianCentreforInternationalAgriculturalResearch(ACIAR).CanberraACT2601,Australia.(www.aciar.gov.au/publication/fr2014-17)

8. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/272683595_UTILIZATION_OF_PADDY_STRAW_AS_ANIMAL_FEED

9. http://nrcmushroom.org/Bull_PSM.pdf,

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11. http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/meerut-farmers-dont-burn-crop-stubble-they-make-manure-out-of-it/article20392428.ece

12. http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/business/hpcl-to-set-up-rs-600-crore-bio-ethanol-unit-in-bathinda/408603.html

13. http://cpcb.nic.in/displaypdf.php?id=bWFudWFsLW1vbml0b3JpbmcvQWlyX1F1YWxpd HlfRGF0YV9EZWxoaS1OQ1JfSmFuMjAxOC5wZGY=

14. Http://Agricoop.Nic.In/Sites/Default/Files/Annual_Rpt_201617_E.Pdf

the aSSOCIateD ChaMBerS OF COMMerCe aND INDUStrY OF INDIaCorporateOffice:5,SardarPatelMarg,Chanakyapuri,NewDelhi–110021

Tel:011-46550555(HuntingLine)•Fax:011-23017008,23017009E-mail:[email protected]•Website:www.assocham.org

INStItUte OF appLIeD SYSteMS aND rUraL DeVeLOpMeNtE-6,Sector3,NOIDA-201301

Mob:9811488240•Tel:0120-2443381Mail:[email protected]•Website:www.iasrd.org

FOUNDatION FOr MILLeNNIUM SUStaINaBLe DeVeLOpMeNt GOaL C–9/9848,VasantKunj,NewDelhi–110070,

Tel:011-26132520/27•Email:[email protected]:http://foundationformsdgs.com

air pollution in delhi & ncr due to ineffective parali...

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