A high level Team of Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) comprising Dr. S.D. Attri, Member Technical and Sh. Vijay Kumar, Scientist ‘C’ from CAQM, held a review meeting with Deputy Commissioners, SSPs and officers from PPCB and Agriculture Department of Districts Sangrur, Patiala and Malerkotla and flying squads of CPCB at District Administrative Complex, Sangrur on 31.10.2026. The meeting focused on reviewing preparation and management of paddy straw and control of stubble fires of these districts by the District Administrations. The team visited an Ex-situ paddy stubble utilisation facility, a duplex board/paper making unit at Dhuri Road, Malerkotla, which uses paddy straw as fuel in its boiler of capacity 20 TPH. The representatives of the industry informed that about 17000 MT of paddy straw would be utilised in its boiler furnace on an annual basis.

The team also saw in-situ machinery working in village Ahmadabad of District Malerkotla. Working of super seeder was also shown by Agricultural Department. Further, the team met farmers, who in turn assured that they will not burn paddy straw and manage the same using in-situ machinery. The team reviewed arrangements and measures being undertaken by the District Administrations and concerned departments for effective management of paddy straw and prevention of stubble burning during the ongoing harvesting season.

The CAQM team visited different villages namely Bassiark, Kapial and Jhaneri in Bhawanigarh Tehsil of District Sangrur. Further, at village Gharachon, a hotspot village, ex-situ and and in-situ management of paddy straw were demonstrated. During the visit, the team interacted with farmers of this hotspot village. The CAQM team was also informed about preparedness of the District Administration and the arrangements made for ensuring the availability of Crop Residue Management (CRM) machinery to farmers for in-situ management of paddy straw. Farmers explained the difficulties faced by them regarding utilization of CRM machinery.

The team visited a paddy straw pelletizing manufacturing unit at Village Nadampur, Bhawanigarh. The CAQM officials, accompanied by officers of the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) and the District Administration, Sangrur obtained first-hand information regarding the utilisation of paddy straw for manufacturing biomass pellets, which are subsequently used as fuel in thermal power plants. The team was apprised that such pellet manufacturing units are playing a significant role in promoting ex-situ management of paddy straw by providing an alternative avenue for its utilisation, thereby helping farmers avoid crop residue burning and contributing towards the prevention of stubble burning incidents.

The CAQM officials asked concerned departments to continue making concerted efforts with close monitoring to ensure effective prevention of stubble burning incidents. The team advised the Officers to ensure effective paddy stubble management as committed by them in the actions. The actions on ground should match with targets undertaken by them.

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VM/SK

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