Plan Rolled Out by CAQM to End Stubble Burning

In a push to eliminate paddy stubble burning and curb the perennial air pollution crisis in the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) during winters, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has rolled out a comprehensive strategy targeting zero farm fires in key paddy-sowing states of Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh during the upcoming Kharif harvesting season.

- NEERAJ MOHAN

The CAQM, formed to formulate air pollution control strategies for Delhi-NCR and adjoining areas, has recently issued two key directives instructing the states to establish a dedicated "Parali (residue) Protection Force," mandate the use of paddy straw-based biomass pellets in brick kilns, and enhance monitoring and infrastructure development for effective crop residue management.

These measures aim to address severe air quality deterioration caused by stubble burning, which is considered the key factor behind the smog affecting normal life in Delhi-NCR from November to February annually.

The CAQM's 19-point action plan mandates Punjab, Haryana, and NCR districts of Uttar Pradesh to map every farm and devise tailored paddy stubble management strategies, including crop diversification, in-situ methods like mulching and decomposers, or ex-situ solutions such as baling and biomass utilization.

To ensure compliance, state-level committees headed by Chief Secretaries are required to submit monthly progress reports to CAQM starting June 1, supported by an online platform for real-time data reporting on crop residue management.

Another key decision is the formation of the state-level "Parali Protection Force" at district and block levels. The PPF will comprise police, agriculture, and administrative officers, who will intensify patrolling, especially during late evening hours, to counter farmers' attempts to burn stubble under the cover of darkness to evade satellite detection.

Sources in CAQM said there was a need to form the PPF because farmers often burn crop waste at night to avoid immediate action by officials.