-SATISH HANDA

Pollution due to burning crop wastes during paddy season is a major problem for residents in Delhi and adjoining states Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and U.P for spreading pollution, fog, causing respiratory, heart, and several injurious health disorders. Delhi government every year blame Haryana and Punjab states responsible for spreading pollution in the atmosphere as a result residents in these states find uneasy even during respiration. According to Delhi government, they are compelled to close down schools and many time have to stop movement of vehicles in public places. This is generally due to farmers after harvesting crop in paddy season finding difficulty to lift crop remains usually burn within agriculture field and in spite of all efforts and imposing heavy fines on farmers violating directions has failed to stop farmers burning crop wastes in open.

Now there is a good news for farmers in Haryana state not to burn the same but selling to industry for manufacturing ply board from ctop wastes. Haryana state government has already given permission to set up four plants to manufacture ply board from crop remains each on about six acre area with project cost worth Rs 5 crore each with the assistance of Ministry of  Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) . Information reveals, initially permission has been granted to set up four plants in Haryana state at Karnal, Sonepat, Panipat and Fatehabad districts likely to start commissioning of units in month March this years each will consume six to eight ton waste every days in each to manufacture ply board.

Information reveals, this technique to manufacture ply board from crop wastes has been developed by CSIR Bhopal and a plant was set up at Chinnai in South by a industry entrepreneur of Rajasthan expert in Indo-wood design technology to produce eco-friendly Fibre Composite Board  from agriculture  waste. According to K.S. Chauhan  a Padamshree award holder farmer ply board manufactured from crop wastes  will be lighter in weight, tough, durable, low production cost enabling manufacturers as well as farmers to increase their income.

According to Dr Anil Sehrawat, Deputy Director Agriculture in Haryana government, in Sonepat district where two plants are being set up and there was 1,03,723 acre  paddy crop area during year 2021 having 20 quintal crop waste obtained in each acre area thus producing 2,074, 480 quintal crop waste capable to run the plant for a period of 289 days. He said, this project will not only bring down production cost of ply board but also increase farmers income.