A farmer knows about the pollution crisis. But we also need to know his problems | The Indian Express

A farmer knows about the pollution crisis. But we also need to know his problems | The Indian Express

Written by Bhupesh Baghel |Updated: November 7, 2019 9:57:58 am

The writer is Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh.

A farmer knows about the pollution crisis. But we also need to know his problems

Chhattisgarh model for disposal of agri-waste offers a solution to pollution crisis.

In this Friday, Nov. 4, 2016 photo, a farmer walks through smoke caused by farming waste set on fire at Palwal, in the state of Haryana, (AP Photo: Saurabh Das)

At times, situations press us into a corner where we need to face the challenges head on and reach a long-term solution. Pollution caused by burning of parali (crop residue) is one such unprecedented crisis. We must act not only because it is choking Delhi or there is a 50 per cent rise in respiratory illnesses, be it COPD or asthma cases, in the National Capital Region (NCR) area, but also because we are losing soil fertility and there is a rise in incidents of cancer in Punjab and Haryana.