Punjab will pay you if you shift to stubble-based boilers
What's the story
Punjab has announced a ₹60 crore capital subsidy to motivate industries to switch to paddy stubble-based boilers.
The initiative was announced by Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Cheema during the state Budget presentation on March 26.
The move is part of an effort to tackle the environmental menace of stubble burning and its contribution to air pollution in Delhi-NCR.
Environmental impact
Stubble burning: A major contributor to Delhi's air pollution
Stubble burning, a practice common in Punjab and Haryana, is frequently accused of causing the toxic haze over Delhi-NCR.
The yearly paddy harvest in these states often coincides with hazardous air pollution levels in Delhi during October-November.
Farmers resort to this practice to clear fields for the next sowing season, resulting in severe smog in the National Capital Region.
Implementation challenges
Punjab's subsidy scheme for stubble-based boilers
The effort is anticipated to use three million tonnes of rice stubble annually, considerably reducing air pollution and encouraging renewable energy options.
The budget also includes a provision for ₹ 9,992 crore in power subsidies for agriculture.
The government would cover 14.5 lakh agriculture tubewells by not charging them bills, and the government will make payments on their behalf to the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited.
Government actions
₹137 crore for horticulture
To promote horticulture in the state, the government has allocated ₹137 crore.
Cheema also proposed a pilot project to improve animal health care and livestock breeds by establishing in-patient wards and a Blue Cross store in six district veterinary polyclinics.
A budget of ₹704 crore has been allocated for the development of this sector.