Introduction
Every year, as winter approaches, Delhi’s residents brace themselves for a familiar yet avoidable crisis: dangerously high levels of air pollution. This year is no exception. The air quality in Delhi has already worsened significantly, with the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching alarming levels. As reported by the India Meteorological Department and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, the situation has prompted the implementation of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).
On October 6, 2024, GRAP Stage I was activated, signalling that Delhi’s AQI had slipped into the “Poor” category (201-300). As the air quality further deteriorated into the “Very Poor” range (AQI 301-400), the city saw the enforcement of Stage II on October 21. Unfortunately, with winter setting in, conditions may worsen further, possibly necessitating the activation of even stricter measures. But while GRAP provides a systematic, emergency response to deal with rising pollution levels, it does not address the root causes of the problem, many of which lie outside Delhi’s borders, especially in the fields of Punjab and Haryana.
Understanding GRAP and Its Role
The Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) was introduced as a dynamic emergency framework designed to combat escalating pollution levels in Delhi-NCR. Developed and overseen by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM). And this is in coordination with the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC), GRAP triggered by worsening AQI levels. It is an essential tool in the government’s arsenal to fight air pollution, though it acts more like a band-aid solution than a long-term fix.
GRAP consists of four stages, each corresponding to progressively worse air quality levels:
Stage I – “Poor” air quality (AQI 201-300)
Focus on strict enforcement of emission control measures, including restrictions on diesel and petrol vehicles that are overaged, sweeping of roads, and water sprinkling to curb dust.
Stage II – “Very Poor” air quality (AQI 301-400)
Measures intensify with more targeted actions, such as restricting the use of diesel generators, focusing on pollution hotspots, and limiting construction activities.
Stage III – “Severe” air quality (AQI 401-450)
Actions include restricting the use of certain vehicles, possibly shifting students to online classes, and closing down construction sites that contribute to air pollution.
Stage IV – “Severe+” air quality (AQI >450)
This stage would see the complete shutdown of non-essential businesses and stringent restrictions on vehicle entry into Delhi.
Despite these measures, GRAP is essentially a reactive mechanism. It attempts to manage pollution levels after they have already reached dangerous levels but does little to prevent the situation from developing in the first place.
Stubble Burning in Punjab and Haryana: A Major Culprit
One of the leading causes of Delhi’s air quality crisis during the winter months is stubble burning in the neighbouring states of Punjab and Haryana. As farmers prepare their fields for the next crop cycle, many resort to burning the leftover paddy straw after harvesting. This method, though quick and efficient for farmers, releases vast amounts of smoke and particulate matter into the atmosphere. The result? A thick blanket of smog that envelops not only the fields but also nearby cities like Delhi, where it mixes with local pollutants from vehicles, construction dust, and industrial emissions.
Despite efforts by the government to curb this practice through fines and incentives, the situation remains largely unchanged. The Supreme Court recently criticised both Punjab and Haryana for their inadequate responses to the issue, labelling the continued incidents of stubble burning as an “absolute defiance” of the CAQM’s directives.
A recent report revealed that 84% of Haryana’s stubble burning incidents are concentrated in just seven districts. It includes Fatehabad, Kaithal, Karnal, and Jind. This shows that while the problem is widespread, it is especially acute in certain areas. The environmental and health impacts of this practice are severe, contributing significantly to the already hazardous pollution levels in the Delhi-NCR region. Year after year, this toxic cocktail of agricultural fires, local pollution sources, and unfavourable winter weather conditions pushes Delhi into a state of public health emergency.
Why Farmers Continue to Burn Stubble
Despite the harmful effects of stubble burning on the environment and public health, many farmers feel they have no other viable options. The costs associated with alternative methods of crop residue management, such as the use of specialised machines, are prohibitively high for most small-scale farmers. Additionally, the short window between harvesting one crop and sowing the next creates immense time pressure, leading many to opt for the quickest and easiest solution—burning the stubble.
The government has introduced various measures to discourage this practice, including promoting the use of crop residue management equipment like Happy Seeder machines and offering subsidies for these alternatives. However, adoption has been slow, partly due to the costs and logistical challenges involved. Enforcement of anti-burning laws has also been inconsistent, further compounding the issue.
2G Ethanol: A Sustainable Solution to Stubble Burning
To address the stubble burning problem in a sustainable and economically viable way, India must look towards innovative solutions like the production of 2G ethanol. Unlike 1G ethanol, which is derived from food crops like sugarcane and maize. 2G ethanol is from agricultural waste. This includes the paddy straw that is currently burned in the fields of Punjab and Haryana.
The advantages of 2G ethanol are numerous. First, it provides farmers with an alternative to burning their crop residue. Instead of viewing stubble as waste to be disposed of, farmers could see it as a valuable resource that can be sold to ethanol production plants. This would not only reduce air pollution but also provide farmers with an additional source of income, making the transition away from stubble burning economically attractive.
Second, 2G ethanol contributes to India’s energy security by reducing dependence on fossil fuels. India has set ambitious targets for ethanol blending in fuel, aiming for 20% ethanol blending by 2025. To meet these targets, the country will need to significantly ramp up ethanol production, and 2G ethanol from biomass is a key component of that strategy.
Finally, the use of 2G ethanol has environmental benefits beyond just reducing air pollution. As a biofuel, ethanol produces fewer greenhouse gas emissions than traditional fossil fuels, contributing to India’s climate change mitigation goals. By adopting 2G ethanol on a large scale, India can make progress on multiple fronts: reducing air pollution, supporting farmers, and promoting clean energy.
Overcoming Challenges and Scaling Up 2G Ethanol
While the potential of 2G ethanol is clear, there are still challenges that need to address to make it a widespread solution. One of the biggest barriers is the lack of infrastructure for collecting and processing biomass on a large scale. Building 2G ethanol plants and setting up supply chains for collecting crop residue from farmers will require significant investment.
Government support will be crucial in this regard. Policymakers need to provide incentives for private companies to invest in ethanol production facilities and create a supportive regulatory environment. At the same time, farmers need to be educated about the benefits of selling their crop residue rather than burning it, and the government should ensure that they have access to the necessary logistics and support to make this transition.
There are already signs of progress. The Indian government has launched several initiatives to promote 2G ethanol production, including financial support for setting up bio-refineries. However, much more needs to do to scale up these efforts and make 2G ethanol a mainstream solution to India’s stubble burning crisis.
Conclusion
The air quality in Delhi has deteriorated once again, pushing the city into a state of emergency and triggering the implementation of GRAP. While this framework provides a structured response to rising pollution levels, it is not a long-term solution. The root causes of Delhi’s winter smog lie in neighbouring states, particularly in the fields of Punjab and Haryana where farmers continue to burn their crop residue.
To solve this problem sustainably, India must embrace 2G ethanol as a viable alternative. By converting agricultural waste into biofuel, 2G ethanol not only addresses the issue of stubble burning but also contributes to the country’s clean energy goals. With the right investments and policy support, 2G ethanol could be the key to reducing air pollution, supporting farmers, and building a cleaner, healthier future for Delhi and beyond.