Crop residue burning: A compulsion on farmers, a cause of air pollution, needs a solution

This paper reviews the literature on Crop Residue Burning (CRB) -as a major cause for the air pollution spreading in India. CRB is a recurring problem, during October–November, in the northwestern regions (Punjab, Haryana, and Western Uttar Pradesh) of India. The emissions from the CRB source regions spread in all directions through long-range transport mechanisms, depending upon the meteorological conditions. In recent years, numerous studies have been carried out dealing with the impact of CRB on the air quality of Delhi and surrounding areas, especially in the Indo-Gangetic Basin (also referred to as Indo-Gangetic Plain). Specifically, we examine evidence from studies highlighting the scale of this practice done in NW regions of India, the environmental implications, the drivers of the practice and the remedies to the problem.