Stop stubble burning: N Munal Meitei
Source: The Sangai Express

Kakching, October 21 2020: To prevent stubble burning in the harvesting season, a team of journalists and environmentalist Naorem Munal Meitei inspected paddy fields in Kakching district including Kakching Nongchubi Loukol, today.

Speaking to media persons, Naorem Munal Meitei, who is also a Range Forest Officer, Kakching, said that stubble burning is one big challenge to the environment that must be solved as it not only contributes to air pollution and deteriorate soil's organic content but also destroy trees which are often recognised as the lungs of the world.

The environmentalist also informed that as much as 80 percent of the State population is engaged in agriculture and its related activities and 12.89 percent of the Manipur land is arable.

He further mentioned that the State produces 13,53,750 tonnes of straw on average, annually.

Saying that stubble burning is practised extensively in the State, today though harmful to the environment, as it saves both time and money, he added that some farmers burn straw with a false believe that it solves pest problems.

Munal further stated that approximately 332kg of nitrogen; 6 kg of phosphorus; 140 kg of potassium; 11kg of sulphur and other nutrients are lost when straw gathered from a paddy field measuring one pari is burnt and releases SO2 (11.4 kg); CO (342 kg), CO2 (8322 kg), Particulate Matter (17 kg) and dust (1134 kg) which contribute to air pollution.

The State lost nearly nitrogen (80.50 million ton), phosphorus (1.42 million ton), potassium (33.22 million ton) and sulphur (2.61 million ton) on average annually as a consequence of stubble burning, he said and maintained that the heat from burning paddy straw also elevate the soil temperature to 33.8 to 42.2 degree Celsius, killing the bacterial and fungal populations critical for fertile soil.

On the other hand, a notice issued by N Munal Meitei has appealed all not to heap up hay straw/ stubble on the roadside near trees.

Burning and killing trees is a punishable offence, he added and further appealed all not to burn paddy straw.

Comment