Chandigarh: The Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) on Thursday held separate review meetings with the governments of Punjab and Haryana in Chandigarh to review measures for the prevention and control of paddy stubble burning and the abatement of other key sources of air pollution, calling for prompt action on the ground, according to an official statement reported by news agencies ANI and IANS.
The Punjab meeting, chaired by CAQM Chairperson Rajesh Verma, focused on implementation of the State Action Plan for prevention and control of paddy stubble burning in accordance with CAQM Direction No. 99 dated May 15, according to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change statement cited by ANI. The Commission reviewed on-ground enforcement measures, district-level preparedness and monitoring mechanisms for effective paddy stubble management.
The availability, deployment and effective utilisation of Crop Residue Management (CRM) machinery at the district and farmer levels were reviewed, along with gaps in machinery utilisation and arrangements for the collection, transportation and utilisation of paddy straw through in-situ and ex-situ management. The Commission emphasised the need to strengthen the crop-residue supply chain and ensure effective use of available machinery during the peak harvesting period.
The meeting also covered field validation of burnt-area assessment through satellite-based fire alerts, district-wise deployment of drones and low-cost sensors to monitor stubble-burning incidents, compliance with the mandate to use paddy straw-based biomass pellets and briquettes in brick kilns, and progress towards biomass co-firing targets in thermal power plants.
The Commission cautioned district administrations that any laxity leading to a rise in stubble-burning incidents shall be viewed seriously, and advised both state governments to address implementation gaps on priority, implement awareness (IEC) plans more effectively on the ground, and pursue paddy stubble management not merely to prevent burning but as an opportunity to build an industrial ecosystem in which paddy straw is used as a resource. The Haryana meeting additionally covered vehicular pollution, road and construction dust, and industrial pollution.