The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in National Capital Region (NCR) and Adjoining Areas has issued a directive emphasizing stricter measures to control paddy stubble burning during the 2024 harvest season. This directive was issued on April 12, 2024.
Background
Stubble burning, the practice of burning leftover crop residue after harvest, is a major contributor to air pollution in NCR and surrounding areas. The CAQM has been actively addressing this issue through collaboration with state governments.
Key Points of the Directive
- Implementation of Revised Action Plans: The directive mandates the states of Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh to strictly implement their revised and updated action plans for preventing paddy stubble burning during the 2024 harvest season.
- Focus Areas: The plans emphasize:
- Complete Mapping: Mapping all available management solutions for paddy stubble, including in-situ and ex-situ methods, to ensure all farms are covered.
- Resource Availability: Reviewing the availability and allocation of machinery for stubble management in Custom Hiring Centres (CHCs), Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), and Farm Banks.
- Increased Resources: Augmenting the number of CHCs and ensuring they have adequate resources.
- Timely Procurement: Encouraging farmers and CHCs to procure new machinery for stubble management well in advance by July-August 2024.
- Prioritization for Marginal Farmers: Optimizing machinery utilization by FPOs and Farm Banks to prioritize support for poor and marginal farmers.
- Monitoring and Surveillance: Establishing IT/web-based monitoring mechanisms for CHC machinery usage, along with on-ground surveillance by village and block-level teams.
- Public Awareness: Continuing and enhancing public awareness campaigns regarding the harmful effects of stubble burning.
- Enforcement Measures: Timely appointment of designated officers for strict monitoring and enforcement actions.
- Identification and Penalty: Developing a mechanism to pinpoint farms engaging in stubble burning, conduct inspections based on the ISRO fire event monitoring protocol, and implement penalties as per regulations.
- Regular Reviews: Conducting frequent reviews and closely monitoring the implementation of action plans at all levels of state government and district administration.
Collaboration for Clean Air
The directive also urges the Government of NCT of Delhi and the state government of Rajasthan to make significant efforts towards eliminating paddy stubble burning during the upcoming season. All relevant states are required to submit monthly status reports on their actions taken based on the plan’s timelines and milestones.
