Chinese City Bans Outdoor Straw Burning. Is This The Solution For India's Crop Burning Woes Too?
Come March and outdoor burning of straw will be banned China’s northern city of Tianjin to reduce air pollution.
Reuters
Although many local governments forbid straw burning, farmers continue to do so as there is no profit in recycling it and leaving it on farmland affects the next season's crop growth.
In a similar vein, farmers in Haryana and Punjab burn stubble because it’s the easiest and least costly way to get rid of paddy residue. Burning stubble, however, spikes the capital’s air pollution levels to dangerous.
Also read: Despite Ban, Crop Fires Already On In Punjab And Haryana, Raise Pollution Fear In Delhi
From March 1, open-air burning of straw can be fined at a maximum of 2,000 yuan (USD 291), according to a regulation passed by the city's legislature.
Reuters
The regulation passed on Friday encourages farmers to use straw shredders during harvesting so as to return the material as bio-fertiliser.
No farming subsidy will be granted if the practice is not enforced, the regulation said.
Environmental monitoring data shows the number of days of heavy air pollution in Tianjin increased in 2016.
The city issued a red alert for pollution in mid- December when schools and traffic were disrupted by heavy smog.
