The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in National Capital Region (NCR) and Adjoining Areas has issued a directive emphasizing stricter measures to control paddy stubble burning during the 2024 harvest season. This directive was issued on April 12, 2024.

Biomass-derived energy is poised to play a pivotal role in the ongoing energy transition. According to IRENA’s 1.5°C Scenario, outlined in the World Energy Transitions Outlook, bioenergy is projected to constitute 22% of total primary energy supply by 2050.

The Indian government has introduced a new set of draft rules aimed at addressing the issue of crop residue burning and promoting environmental sustainability. These rules are known as the Environment (Utilisation of Crop Residue by Thermal Power Plants) Rules, 2023.

This paper provides a subregional overview on the status of crop residue management in Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan.

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) on April 28, 2023, issued the Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas (Imposition, Collection, and Utilization of Environmental Compensation for Stubble Burning) Rules, 2023.

In what could be one of the effective ways to deal with the issue of air pollution linked to stubble burning, all coal based thermal power plants located in Delhi-NCR and adjoining area will have to mandatorily use a minimum 5% blend of pellets made of crop residue with coal annually.

Open burning of crop residues in India is a serious issue that not only impacts human health but is also detrimental to soil health in the long term. According to the estimates from the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, about 500 million tonnes of crop residues are generated annually.

This study presents current (2020) waste and residue feedstock availability in the European Union and the United Kingdom and provides projections for 2030 and 2050. The study considers the availability of agricultural residues, forestry residues, and biogenic waste.