CAQM asks Punjab, Hry to mandate use of straw-based fuel in brick kilns

In a step aimed at curbing air pollution from crop residue burning, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has issued fresh directives to the state governments of Punjab and Haryana, mandating the use of paddy straw-based biomass pellets and briquettes as fuel in all brick kilns located beyond the National Capital Region (NCR).

- Gurpreet Singh Nibber

CHANDIGARH:

In its order issued on Tuesday, CAQM emphasized the urgent need to control pollution caused by the open burning of paddy stubble, particularly in the wake of its severe impact on air quality in Delhi-NCR during the post-harvest months.

Paddy straw burning in Punjab and Haryana is one of the reasons behind the alarming spike in air pollution in the NCR in October and November. As the window for rabi crop wheat is very short after the paddy harvest, farmers set their fields on fire to quickly get rid of crop residue for sowing of the next crop.

"The use of pellets in industrial boilers is an ex-situ method of managing paddy stubble—removing the straw from fields and utilizing it as fuel in boilers," the commission stated.