Citing various reports, the survey noted that Delhi accounts for one of the unhealthiest cities in the world in terms of pollution.

NEW DELHI: Acknowledging air pollution in the national capital and NCR areas as a serious problem, the Budget announced on Thursday mentioned a scheme to tackle stubble burning.

Under the scheme, the Union government will assist the state governments to set up an in situ machinery for disposing crop residue in a manner that does not adversely affect environment.

Experts welcomed the move saying that such a scheme was ‘desperately needed’.

“It will provide subsidy to farmers to purchase equipment which will allow them to mulch the straw rice so that it is not burned and in turn pollute the air. It is a good scheme and I am glad that the finance minister flagged it,” said Sunita Narain, director general, Centre for Science and Environment and a member of the Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA), a Supreme Court-appointed pollution watchdog.

She added that the only concern is that it should be implemented timely. “Time is of essence here. It should be done before the next winter which is not very far,” she said.

Presenting the Union Budget 2018-19, finance minister Arun Jaitley said, “A special scheme will be implemented to support the efforts of the governments of Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and the NCT of Delhi to address air pollution and subsidise machinery required for in situ management of crop residue.”

The Economic Survey had earlier suggested heavy penalties for burning agricultural waste, and more incentives for farmers to prevent alarmingly poor air quality in Delhi-NCR and its adjoining areas.

The survey said due to burning of paddy fields after harvesting mainly in north India, the resultant smoke gets carried by winds to Delhi and beyond, adding to the existing suspended particulate matter (SPM) and noxious substances.

Citing various reports, the survey noted that Delhi accounts for one of the unhealthiest cities in the world in terms of pollution.