Rajpura (Patiala News): Chairman of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), Mr. Rajesh Verma, today said that “After the Green Revolution, now a Stubble Revolution is taking place in Punjab.” He visited the Rajpura Thermal Power Plant to review the process of mixing Biomass pellets with coal and to assess stubble management efforts in Patiala district. CAQM Member Secretary Mr. Tarun Kumar Pithode also accompanied him during the visit.
At Nabha Power Limited Thermal Power Plant, Mr. Verma observed that paddy straw has now become a source of income for farmers. He noted that after the Green Revolution, farmers are moving towards a “Paddy Stubble Revolution,” resulting in a significant decline in stubble burning incidents this year compared to previous seasons.
Recalling his visit to Punjab on November 13 last year, he said, “At that time, smoke was visible everywhere, but today the sun is shining bright. Even fireworks were seen during Gurpurab celebrations yesterday-a sign of clearer skies.”
On this occasion, Mr. Priyank Bharti, Secretary, Department of Science, Technology and Environment, and Mr. Arshdeep Singh Thind, Administrative Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, apprised the CAQM Chairman that the paddy stubble management season lasts for about 40 days, after which the machines remain idle for most of the year. To ensure optimal utilization, the Punjab Government had earlier experimented with using these machines for wheat straw management, which was not successful. Now, experiments are being conducted to handle sugarcane residue, which is expected to reduce machinery costs and enhance stubble management efficiency.
Patiala Deputy Commissioner Dr. Preeti Yadav informed the Chairman that paddy harvesting in the district is nearly complete and 60 percent of wheat sowing has already been done. She said that the district administration has worked extensively to raise awareness among farmers and provided them with stubble management machinery, along with behavioural changes in farmers and unions leading to a sharp decline in stubble burning cases.
Dr. Yadav shared that 414 cases of stubble burning were reported by this time last year, whereas only 168 cases have been recorded so far this year. She added that farmers are being encouraged to adopt in-situ management methods instead of ex-situ, as it helps improve soil fertility and crop productivity.
Earlier CAQM deligation was welcomed by Rajesh Kumar, Devdutta Sarma, Gaganvir Cheema & other Senior Officials Nabha Power Ltd. NPL team explained in detail about the process being followed at the yard where actual mixing of Biomass pellets is done for end use in the Supercritical Boiler.
Also present on the occasion were Punjab Pollution Control Board Chairperson Ms. Reena Gupta, Member Secretary Dr. Lavneet Kumar, SSP Sarfaraz Alam, SP Vaibhav Chaudhary, SDM Avikesh Gupta, and officials from other departments.
