Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in NCR and adjoining areas, on Wednesday lauded Punjab for making strenuous efforts to bring down the stubble burning count by nearly 71 % from last year. Chairing a review meeting with stakeholder departments, Deputy Commissioners and SSPs of the Punjab to assess enforcement measures regarding stubble burning, the Chairperson of CAQM Mr. Rajesh Verma appreciated the efforts being made by the Punjab government to check this menace.
Thoroughly reviewing enforcement measures with all DCs with major focus on high-burning districts, he underlined the need to bring the rate of such incidents to zero. Mr. Rajesh Verma said that the efforts made by Punjab government hitherto are laudable but there is still need to improve the enforcement efforts and tighten the noose.
The Chairperson said that CAQM will continue to monitor the situation closely and work with state governments and local authorities to ensure effective implementation of enforcement measures. He directed concerned authorities to further intensify efforts to prevent stubble burning in Punjab adding that there should be laxity in enforcement, ensuring stringent action against violators.
Mr. Rajesh Verma advised that the authorities must take proactive steps to control stubble burning until November 30, when the burning season peaks. The Chairperson also advocated mapping of villages as per fire counts and mitigation measures along with enforcement actions.
Meanwhile, DCs along with respective SSPs from 13 districts with substantial burning fire counts presented the status of enforcement and regulatory exercises, while others shared updates through video conferencing. Taking part in deliberations, the Punjab Chief Secretary KAP Sinha stressed the state government led by Chief Minister Mr. Bhagwant Singh Mann is committed to check the incidents of paddy straw burning in the state by encouraging farmers to adopt paddy straw management techniques.
He said that DCs have been directed to ensure in situ and ex situ measures at ground level by offering subsidies to the farmers. Mr. KAP Sinha said that micro planning is being adhered at village level till the season is over by November 30. The Chief Secretary also informed the commission that all the four thermal power plants as figured in the State Action Plan will utilise paddy straw based pallets as per the ratio fixed in mixing with coal as fuel promptly.
Likewise, Additional Chief Secretary Agriculture Mr Anurag Verma assured the commission that the monitoring exercise will intensify in the coming days and no complacency shall be tolerated as the officers are working zealously 24x7. Secretary Environment Mr. Priyank Bharti assured the commission that every possible effort shall be made in the state of Punjab to comply with directions of commission.
The meeting was attended by CAQM’s Member Secretary Mr. Arvind Nautiyal, Director Mr. RK Agarwal, Member Mr. Sujit Kumar Bajpayee and Dr Vikas Singh, DGP Punjab Mr. Gaurav Yadav, ADGP law and order Mr. Arpit Shukla, Secretary Agriculture Mr. Ajit Balaji Joshi, Chairman PPCB Prof. Adarsh Pal Vig besides others.