**Executive Summary**
This document is the answer to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1461, concerning pollution from agriculture, specifically related to Shamli and the Yamuna River basin. The response details the government's actions regarding air quality monitoring, incentives for sugarcane farmers, afforestation efforts, and grants to local bodies for green belt development. The answer was given on 09.02.2026, and includes data up to 20.01.2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Air Quality Monitoring in Shamli:**
* One manual ambient air quality monitoring station is operational.
* One Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Station (CAAQMS) has been procured by Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) for installation.
* **Incentives for Sugarcane Farmers (Crop Residue Management - CRM):**
* Financial assistance at 50% of machinery cost for individual farmers to procure CRM machines.
* Financial assistance at 80% of project cost (up to Rs. 30 Lakhs) for establishing Custom Hiring Centres of CRM machinery by various organizations.
* From 2018-19 to 2025-26, Rs. 4173.84 crores released to various states.
* Over 3.50 lakh machines distributed and more than 43,415 Custom Hiring Centres established.
* One-time financial support from CPCB for pelletization and Torrefaction plants for in-situ management, with Rs. 15.58 crore released for 25 plants.
* Farm machinery banks in Shamli offer trash mulchers and ratoon management devices. A total of 1,637 trash mulchers and 1,551 ratoon management devices are available.
* **Afforestation in the Yamuna River Basin:**
* Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) released for the rejuvenation of 13 major rivers, including the Yamuna.
* 1311.74 sq. km area treated under natural landscape, afforestation, and soil/moisture conservation.
* Afforestation and plantation activities occurred along Yamuna Flood Plains, with 3,11,203 saplings planted on 271.248 hectares by 2024-25.
* Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has planted over 7 lakh trees and 1 crore grass saplings.
* **Grants for Green Belt Development:**
* Afforestation and plantation works linked with soil/moisture conservation through Gram Panchayats via Viksit Bharat- Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Act, 2025.
* 17 green spaces and parks developed in Kairana parliamentary constituency with an area of 8.01 acres under AMRUT Scheme.
* Red and Orange category industries are mandated to develop green belts as per MoEF&CC guidelines (dated 29.10.2025).
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Farmers**
* **Impact:** Access to subsidized CRM machinery reduces the financial burden of adopting in-situ residue management practices and prevents them from burning agricultural residue.
* **Action Required:** Farmers can apply for financial assistance to procure CRM machines individually or through groups like Cooperative Societies, SHGs, FPOs, and Panchayats.
**Stakeholder: State Governments (Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, NCT of Delhi)**
* **Impact:** Receipt of funds for implementing the CRM Scheme to promote sustainable agricultural practices.
* **Action Required:** The States need to ensure the effective distribution of machinery and establishment of Custom Hiring Centers.
**Stakeholder: Local Bodies (Gram Panchayats)**
* **Impact:** Increased opportunity for afforestation and plantation activities linked to soil and moisture conservation, potentially leading to environmental improvement and employment generation.
* **Action Required:** Gram Panchayats can undertake afforestation and plantation works linked with soil and moisture conservation.
**Stakeholder: Industries (Red and Orange Category)**
* **Impact:** Requirement to develop green belts in industrial areas/estates as per guidelines.
* **Action Required:** Industries must adhere to the MoEF&CC guidelines for developing green belts.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC): The primary ministry responsible for environmental policies and regulations, including pollution control and afforestation efforts.
Crop Residue Management (CRM) Scheme: A scheme by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare to provide financial assistance for the procurement of machinery for in-situ management of crop residue, aiming to reduce stubble burning.
Yamuna River: A major river in India, the rejuvenation of which is being addressed through forestry interventions and other schemes.
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB): The central body providing financial support for establishing pelletization and torrefaction plants for in-situ crop residue management.
Shamli: A city in Uttar Pradesh where air quality monitoring stations are being set up to address pollution from agriculture.
OIH
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1461
TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.02.2026
Pollution from Agriculture
1461. MS IQRA CHOUDHARY:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government proposes to set up Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring
Stations (CAAQMS) in the area to monitor air pollution caused by agricultural machinery
industries in Shamli;
(b) whether there is any plan to provide special incentives to sugarcane farmers for in-situ
management to prevent them from burning agricultural residue;
(c) whether the Government has fixed any specific afforestation target to check soil erosion in the
Yamuna river basin, if so, the details thereof; and
(d) whether the Government proposes to provide additional grants to local bodies for developing
green belts in the industrial areas of Kerana Parliamentary Constituency?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND
CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a): One manual ambient air quality monitoring station is operational to collect air quality data of
Shamli city. In addition, one Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Station (CAAQMS) has
been procured by Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) for installation in Shamli city.
(b): To address air pollution due to paddy stubble burning , Department of Agriculture and Farmers
Welfare (DA&FW) has launched Crop Residue Management (CRM) Scheme where in financial
assistance at 50% of the cost of the machinery is provided to farmers for procurement of CRM
machines on individual ownership basis, and financial assistance at 80% of the project cost for the
project costing up to Rs. 30 Lakhs is provided for establishment of Custom Hiring Centres of CRM
machinery by Rural Entrepreneurs, Cooperative Societies, DAY-NRLM Cluster Level Federations and
Self Help Groups (SHGs), Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) and Panchayats.
During the period from 2018-19 to 2025-26 (as on 20.01.2026), Rs. 4173.84 crores have been released
(Punjab-Rs. 2026.45 crores, Haryana- Rs. 1156.71 crores, Uttar Pradesh- Rs. 838.67 crores, Madhya
Pradesh- Rs. 45.00 crores, NCT of Delhi- Rs. 6.05 crores, ICAR- Rs. 93.235 crores and others Rs.
7.7205 crores) by the Ministry of Agriculture and Family Welfare (MoAFW). The States have
distributed more than 3.50 lakh machines to the individual famers and established more than 43,415Custom Hiring Centres (CHC) in the States. Further, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) provides
one-time financial support for establishment of pelletization and Torrefaction plants to promote in-situ
management. An amount of Rs. 15.58 crore has been released for 25 plants with capacity of 104.5 Tons
per Hour (TPH) and these plants are expected to utilize 4.83 lakh tonnes paddy straw annually
Further, as informed by Government of Uttar Pradesh, farm machinery banks have been set up for in
situ management of sugarcane crop residue in Shamli. Trash mulcher and Ratoon management devices
are available in these banks for mulching of sugarcane leaf residue to enrich organic matter in the soil
and to stop burning of the residue. A total of 1,637 trash mulchers and 1,551 ratoon management
devices are available with the farm machinery banks, sugarcane mills and farmers of Shamli.
(c): MoEF&CC and Ministry of Jal Shakti jointly released the Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) on
rejuvenation of 13 major rivers including Yamuna River through Forestry Interventions and
convergence of schemes of other line departments in the states and funding support from the
Government of India. So far, 1311.74 sq. km area of Yamuna River basin has been treated under natural
landscape, afforestation and soil and moisture conservation.
In addition, till 2024-25, afforestation and plantation activities were undertaken along the Yamuna
Flood Plains under the jurisdiction of the Central Forest Division, Govt. of NCT of Delhi. A total of
3,11,203 saplings were planted over an area of 271.248 hectares.
Further, Delhi Development Authority (DDA) have planted more than 7 lakh trees and 100lakh (1
crore) grass saplings, conducive to floodplain ecology (trees and grasses of native varieties).
(d): Under Viksit Bharat- Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G)
Act, 2025, afforestation and plantation works linked with soil and moisture conservation can be taken
up through Gram Panchayats.
Under AMRUT Scheme of Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, 17 green spaces and parks with an
area of 8.01 acres worth Rs.4.76 crore have been developed in Kairana Parliamentary constituency.
Further, Red and Orange category industries in industrial estates/areas have been mandated to develop
green belt as per the guidelines prescribed by MoEF&CC vide dated 29.10.2025.
***