High-level team of CAQM inspects paddy straw management in Punjab

A high-level team of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in NCR and Adjoining Areas reviewed the measures for paddy stubble management in Sangrur, Patiala and Malerkotla districts of Punjab. The team included technical member Dr S.D. Attri and scientist Vijay Kumar. This review meeting was held on 31.10.2026 at the District Administrative Complex, Sangrur, which was attended by district Deputy Commissioners, SSPs, officials of the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) and Agriculture Department, as well as members of the CPCB Flying Squad. The main objective of the meeting was to focus on the preparation, management of paddy stubble by district administrations and controlling stubble-burning incidents.

The team visited various facilities for the utilization of stubble. A visit was made to a duplex board/paper manufacturing unit located on Dhuri Road in Malerkotla, which uses paddy straw as fuel in a 20 TPH capacity boiler. Industry representatives stated that approximately 17,000 metric tonnes of paddy straw will be used annually in their boiler furnace. Additionally, the team inspected the functioning of in-situ machinery in Ahmadabad village of Malerkotla district, and the operation of super seeder was also demonstrated by the Agriculture Department. During this interaction with farmers, the farmers assured that they would not burn paddy straw and would manage it using in-situ machinery.

The CAQM team visited Basiyark, Kapial and Jhaneri villages of Bhawanigarh sub-division in Sangrur district. The in-situ and ex-situ management of stubble was demonstrated at the hotspot village Garachon. The team also interacted with the farmers of this hotspot village. The district administration informed the team about the preparations made to ensure the availability of Crop Residue Management (CRM) machinery for in-situ management to the farmers. The farmers also explained the difficulties faced by them regarding the use of CRM machinery.

喜び (The team also visited a paddy straw pellet-making unit in Nadampur village of Bhawanigarh.) [Note: No Japanese text in source] The team also visited a paddy straw pellet-making unit in Nadampur village of Bhawanigarh. CAQM officials, along with officials from PPCB and Sangrur district administration, obtained first-hand information regarding the use of paddy straw to make biomass pellets used as fuel in thermal power plants. It was stated that such pellet manufacturing units are playing an important role in promoting ex-situ management of stubble, which helps prevent farmers from burning stubble.

In conclusion, CAQM officials directed the concerned departments to make continuous efforts and maintain strict vigil to effectively curb stubble-burning incidents. They advised the officials to ensure effective stubble management as promised by them and stated that the ground-level actions must be consistent with the targets set by them.