Stubble burning: MPs urge govt to provide incentives to farmers

NEW DELHI: Members cutting across party lines said in Lok Sabha on Thursday that stubble burning alone cannot be blamed for rising levels of air pollution in and around Delhi and urged the government to provide incentives to farmers so that they dispose of stubble in a more scientific manner.

Some members also suggested that minimum support price should be extended on produce like pearl millet (bajra) and sunflower as after harvesting they do not leave stubble. Congress member Shashi Tharoor said the government should follow a legislative approach to implement the national clean air programme.

The discussion on “Air Pollution and Climate Change” continued for the second day and Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar would respond on Friday afternoon.

AAP member Bhagwant

Mann and Apna Dal leader Anupriya Patel said that farmers should not be blamed for stubble burning, considered as one of the main reasons for air pollution in the national capital region, and demanded that they should be encouraged to grow crops which do not leave stubble.

Debate gets musical

The debate on pollution in Parliament went musical with a Union Minister belting out a Bollywood number for clean air and a member echoing similar songs. And there was also a witty response from another member to suggestions from two Union Ministers that consuming carrots and listening to music can help check the effects of air pollution. Vardhan was present in the House. Supriyo, who is a playback singer, said the government is trying to clean up the air so that everyone can sing this song from the movie “Seeta Aur Geeta”.