SUPER-SMS : A respite for Delhiites !!!
Knock , Knock - SMS. Guys, this sound may remind you of a new message alert on your mobiles and hearing the word Super-SMS, your mind may start giving impression of a new mobile messaging technique. But this name Super-SMS has nothing to do with real messaging, indeed. Though not related to real messaging, this special SMS has something in store for the people of Delhi. Surprised !!! Guys, this special message can save the Delhiites from a common but severe problem they face every year - SMOG. Guys, let me not thrill you more and reveal what it is actually. This Super-SMS is a machine named Super-Straw Management System to solve the paddy burning problem in Punjab and other areas. Now, you got it guys. Today I am sharing the problem of paddy burning being carried out in areas of Punjab, Haryana,western UP and Uttarakhand.
Delhi is known as : dilwalon ki delhi. But in recent years, this name seems to be changed to : pollution prone delhi. The problem of smog got so worsened in Delhi that Supreme Court has to order a ban on fire crackers at the festival of Diwali last year. Kids were really unhappy with the decision as they wait for this festival throughout the year. And why would they not be unhappy as the main reasons behind this were not tackled. Mr. Sorry (the great Kejriwal) blamed Punjab and Haryana for the pollution caused in Delhi. They in turn blamed each other for the same.
Guys, Delhi face internal problems like factories, old diesel vehicles, power plants, dust from construction sites etc. So how only can Punjab be held responsible for the aching lungs of Delhiites. Let me clear this confusion. Farmers in Punjab plant paddy starting from 15th June and the crop matures after about 5 long months mainly in October. And it has to be harvested before next month as 15th November marks beginning of the plantation of the next crop -wheat. For the harvesting of the paddy crop, farmers are using combine harvesters. The combines harvest, thresh and clean the separated grain in just one hour. If done manually, it will take a full day with nearly 10 persons working in the fields costing around 4500 rs. But in case of combines, the cost will be maximum 1500rs. for an acre of paddy crop.
As you just noticed, harvesting with combines saves time and money, but in the process it leaves behind loose straw and standing stubble. And it is not at all easy to get rid of this crop residue. If the farmers clear the residue manually, it is time consuming and if they use machines again to clear the stubble, then it will increase their costs. This is specially not feasible for farmers working on small acres of land. So this led farmers to use the free of cost and time saving method for taking care of the crop residue - burning it up. Farmers find burning effective as it provides them enough time for preparing the field for next wheat crop.
In fact guys, wheat might be the main culprit behind this burning process. As i told you earlier, wheat has to be planted starting from 15th November. But paddy is matured late near around 15th October. Some high yielding varieties like PUSA-44 mature even later around 25th October giving farmers hardly 20days to clear off the paddy straw and prepare field for wheat plantation. They are only left with burning it up. PAU(Punjab Agricultural University) has launched short duration varieties like PR-121(140days) and PR-126(125days). This gives the farmers more time for wheat. But it still does not eliminate the need for burning as it is cost saving. So is there not any scientific solution to this problem. Of course it has. A machine named TURBO HAPPY SEEDER(THS) can play a very important role in this respect. Infact, a lot of farmers are already using it now. THS is a tractor mounted machine which clears off the standing stubble and also sow the wheat seeds in the soil and cover it with straw to prevent erosion. So it does two works at a time on the same day and eliminate the need of burning the fields and and also plants the wheat crop. But THS also face a problem as it could not clear off the loose straw fully as compared to standing stubble. So here's where the Super-SMS comes into play. This machine can be attached to any harvesting combiner. It cuts and uniformly spread loose straw on field. So, using THS and Super-SMS can stop the practising of burning the fields and hence, prevent the problem of smog in Delhi.
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| field burning |
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| Turbo happy seeder |
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| Super-SMS |
The NGT(national green tribunal), fined the farmers for carrying out the burning process, but it could not prevent all the farmers from doing the same. Though according to Punjab Pollution Control Board, the reported residue burning cases in fields have decreased from 67,969 in 2016 to 39,686 in 2017, the farmers are yet to fully accept this Super-SMS technique. But i hope when this super message reaches out to all the farmers with proper planning, it will definitely reduce the level of smog and provide the people of Delhi a respite from this problem. The govt. worked out ODD-EVEN system in delhi to stop pollution and that is applaudable. But to breathe freely and put off their masks during morning walks, Delhiites should also come forward and work in cooperation with the govt. Remember, Charity begins at home. The world should know it clear - delhi is still : dilwalon ki delhi and not pollution prone Delhi.
