Stubble burning, a major cause of Delhi air pollution, a solvable problem: Punit Renjen
Washington (PTI): Stubble burning, which is a major source of air pollution in the national capital region every winter, is a solvable problem, said Indian-American Punit Renjen, the Deputy Chair of German software firm SAP, based on the two pilot projects he has launched in Haryana and Punjab.
"It is very serious and there are multiple reasons for it. But stubble burning contributes about 25 per cent to 30 per cent of the air quality issues (in Delhi). There are 80,000 fire incidents in northern India, particularly in Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. About 13 million tonnes of stubble is burned and 19 million tonnes of carbon dioxide and other harmful gases are put into the atmosphere," Punit Renjen told PTI.
The top Indian American CEO, who has made part of his mission to help fight air pollution in the national capital region, said 15 million adjusted life years is equivalent to 2 lakh people dying each year as a result of stubble burning.
"There's USD 300 million of lost revenue," who is also the Global CEO Emeritus of Deloitte, said.
"It's a big issue impacting the air quality in northern India, Delhi and elsewhere. And it can be addressed. And this is the issue. It is a solvable problem," he said.
Renjen said for the last two years he has been working collaboratively with the government of Haryana and has mitigated stubble burning.
"This year we are working in 660 villages in nine districts that comprise 91 per cent of active fires in Haryana, 58 per cent reduction in fire incidents. So, it is a solvable problem. We're also working in one district in Punjab -- in Patiala district -- to try and demonstrate that our programme can address this issue," he said.
A collaborative effort between business and government, the programme has five elements, Renjen noted.
"The first is engagement and communication with the farmers. The second is leveraging technology. We've developed an app, the Krishi Yantra Sathi, which connects farmers with equipment providers, with end users," he said, adding that the app is almost like ordering an Uber.
"But it orchestrates, if you will, linking the farmers with the providers of equipment and the end users of the stubble. Now here's the issue. There is a very short window that the farmers have in between when they harvest the paddy crop and when they have to plant the winter crop. And the easiest answer is the 1 cent match that lights the stubble on fire, but it is absolutely destructive," he said.
"The third is orchestration. We are orchestrating this whole programme. The fourth is an ecosystem that we've developed between equipment manufacturers, and end users, so the equipment like Baylors, supersedes end users, like the bioenergy plants, and gaushalas. And then the fifth and final is to leverage the government and business," he explained.
"The prime minister has a Fasal Bima Yojana programme. Other programmes like this provide incentives to farmers so that they don't burn the stubble," he said.
"We are asking businesses to provide Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds so that we can then put the effort into getting this orchestrated. It is a solvable problem. It can be solved. It requires the collective will of all of us, the farmers, the government, businesses, and individuals to make this happen," Renjen said.
In the first year, the project started in the Karnal district of Haryana where the fire incidents were reduced by 65 per cent.
This year it was expanded to 660 villages in nine districts, which accounts for 91 per cent of active fires in Haryana.
"It has been an excellent response. One and a half lakh farmers have requested through the app. More than 3,900 equipment owners have been registered on the app. About 37 per cent of farmers have submitted booking requests, with 44 per cent being small and marginal farmers. It is a clearance of close to 1.7 lakh acres of stubble. It has been a remarkable response, but of course, we need to do more because 58 per cent is excellent, but we need to get to a hundred per cent," he explained.
Encouraged by the success of the Haryana project, Renjen said it has been expanded to the Patiala district of Punjab and there are plans to launch it in Uttar Pradesh as well. "My hope is that in 2024, we can do all of Punjab and we can do all of Haryana."
"I have put in USD 10 million of our money, of private money into this. Other entities, other companies like SAP and others are stepping up and providing CSR dollars," he said.
There are other reasons for air pollution in northern India, but stubble burning constitutes 25-30 per cent of it which is a big chunk. "If we can address it, we can solve it," he said.
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People must do politics; elected representatives must work, says Actor Prakash Raj
Kalaburagi: Actor and activist Prakash Raj has said that in a democracy, politics must be done by the people, while elected representatives are meant to work and serve after winning elections.
Speaking at the launch of Vartha Bharati's Kalyana Karnataka edition in Kalaburagi on Saturday, Prakash Raj said that once representatives are elected, their only responsibility is service. “This is our tax, our country. Service is the only job of people’s representatives. They come to seek votes every five years; the people do not,” he said.
Releasing the newspaper’s special issue at the event, he asserted that the distinction between people and politicians must never be reversed. “This is our country. Citizens must continuously engage in politics, and politicians must continuously work. Never change this order. Politics belongs to the people,” he said.
ALSO READ: Kalaburagi: ‘Vartha Bharati’ Kalyana Karnataka edition launched
Quoting writer P. Lankesh, Prakash Raj said newspapers, media, artists, and citizens must act as a permanent opposition. “They must be the voice of the people without seeking the patronage of the ruling party. Only then can they work fearlessly,” he said. He stressed the need to clearly tell today’s society who must engage in politics.
Referring to regional imbalance, he said Karnataka has become Bengaluru-centric and confined largely to southern Karnataka. With Vartha Bharati entering the Kalyana Karnataka region, he said the newspaper must contribute to the region’s development by consistently reporting its issues with a strong voice.
Prakash Raj also spoke about the role of independent media, saying that anyone can be swept away in a flood, including dead fish, but to swim against the current requires life. “Independent media have that life. Ravish Kumar, The Wire, and Vartha Bharati have the courage to swim against the flood,” he said.
He warned that fear strengthens authoritarianism. “If we are not afraid, they will be afraid,” he said, alleging that institutions such as the police, Election Commission, courts, and media are being pressured, silenced, and manipulated for political benefit. Expressing concern over the denial of bail to Umar Khalid, he said there is a visible lack of conscience in institutions meant to deliver justice to the people.
Recalling the early years after Independence, Prakash Raj said there was once fear of the police but also faith in the judiciary. “There was confidence that injustice would be addressed in court. Today, that faith no longer exists,” he said. He alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party are responsible for the present situation.
Using a metaphor, he said India is like a pond disturbed by a demon within it. “A lotus blooms on the surface, that is the BJP. We are fighting the lotus, but the real fight should be against the RSS, the root power beneath,” he said.
Drawing parallels with past global authoritarian regimes, he said leaders like Hitler and Mussolini headed political parties and could be defeated electorally. “The RSS is not a political party. Defeating the BJP alone is not enough. The roots must be uprooted,” he said, adding that despite changes in appearance, the ideological growth remains unchanged.
Prakash Raj also raised concerns over Hindi imposition, delimitation, and what he described as political oppression of southern states such as Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh in the name of elections. He said people must recognise who is responsible for this oppression and understand the role of newspapers like Vartha Bharati in identifying and exposing it.
The event also marked the formal launch of Vartha Bharati's Kalyana Karnataka edition in Kalaburagi.
