Union Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupendra Yadav said in Lok Sabha on Friday that the government is working to convert stubble into biofuel in an effort to reduce crop burning.
He was speaking during a debate on climate change, in which opposition members questioned the government on setting a net-zero emissions target by 2070 at the Glasgow climate summit.
On Friday, Shiromani Akali Dal member Harsimrat Kaur Badal said that the farmers of Punjab are being “discredited” for burning stubble. He asked the central government to provide resources to the farmers to deal with the issue.
Yadav, in his intervention, said state-run NTPC Ltd had recently procured around 3,000 tonnes of straw to be used for making biofuels and said the government would review the results.
He said that stubble burning has been decriminalized and listed measures to use stubble for various purposes so that farmers do not burn them.
He said, “It has allocated Rs 700 crore for machinery to get rid of the stubble, and Uttar Pradesh has used six lakh acres, while Punjab and Haryana have one- One lakh acres have been used.” Taking a jibe at the AAP-led Delhi government, the minister said it used only 4,000 acres of land but gave big advertisements on using stubble as manure.
Meanwhile, opposition members on Friday alleged that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi The climate summit in Glasgow “volted-face” by setting a net-zero emissions target by 2070 and questioned the rationale behind it.
“Even a week before COP 26, the Indian government showed no inclination to announce a net zero target. In fact, the environment secretary had rejected it in the media,” Trinamool member Saugata Roy said during a discussion on climate change in the Lok Sabha.
DMK member Kanimozhi started the discussion on climate change in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.
“Who inspired and under what pressure did the prime minister make a reversal in Glasgow and announce a net zero target in 2070? Is there any credible research available to confirm the net zero target of 2070? Was there any discussion on net zero target,” Roy asked.
During the discussion, NK Premachandran (RSP) accused the developed countries of reducing their climate commitments in the last three decades since the 1992 Rio summit and that developed and developing countries should be treated differently based on their capabilities. .
Pointing out that ‘common but differentiated responsibility’ has become an insignificant part of the Glasgow Declaration,” – referring to the concept first accepted at the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro – Premachandran Said: “The responsibility of developing countries and developed countries must be treated according to the capabilities of the nation and also what historical polluters have done in the past.” All these factors should be kept in mind while formulating this principle.”
He alleged that India had failed in negotiations to achieve G-77 unity by prompting industrialized economies to agree to a substantial reduction in carbon emissions. He said the country has also failed to meet binding commitments from historical polluters to provide financial and technical assistance to developing countries to tackle the problem posed by the climate crisis. “The third suggestion is that India should be better equipped for its talks,” the MP said.
“India must be at the forefront of meeting the global demand for climate change mitigation. At the same time, we must improve our capacity for adaptation,” he suggested.
Ramesh Bidhuri (BJP) appreciated the Prime Minister’s initiative to popularize the use of energy efficient LED bulbs as an alternative to traditional lighting solutions and offer LPG subsidy, which, he claimed, would reduce dependence on firewood for cooking. has given.
Bidhuri accused the Congress of “playing politics” with Mahatma Gandhi’s ideals of cleanliness and sustainable living and “failing” to enact legislation to ensure clean air in the country.
Jagdambika Pal (BJP) said, “We should not indulge in the blame game…. All states irrespective of their political affiliations should work together on the issue of climate change and environmental protection.
National People’s Party (NPP) MP Agatha Sangma said that today’s development has to be reconsidered and we cannot follow the western model of development.
“We have to work for the betterment of the planet and the people at the same time,” Sangma said.
Congress’s K Suresh said that it is unfortunate that developing countries like India are being blamed for climate change, while the responsibility of environmental degradation lies with the developed world and its tireless efforts for profit and greed.
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