PMO directs Punjab, Haryana to strictly implement action plan to prevent stubble burning

New Delhi: A high-level meeting held at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) today stressed on the urgent need to adopt electric vehicles and develop charging infrastructure in the NCR to tackle air pollution.

Meanwhile, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister P K Mishra directed the Chief Secretaries of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to strictly implement the action plan to check stubble burning.

Chairing a meeting of the task force, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister P K Mishra urged all concerned agencies to strictly and timely implementation of the Phased Response Action Plan (GRP) to tackle air pollution, a statement said.

The GRP is an anti-pollution measure to be implemented during winter. Mishra directed the chief secretaries of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to strictly implement the action plan to check stubble burning, ensure full use of management machines for crop residue and support small scale industries in the use of stubble, the statement said.

He stressed on the importance of adoption of electric vehicles and expansion of EV charging infrastructure in the National Capital Region (NCR).

Mishra also encouraged states to increase their fleet of e-buses under the ‘PM e-Bus Seva’ scheme, which aims to add 10,000 e-buses to the country, the statement said.

The meeting was also attended by officials of central and state pollution control boards and chief secretaries of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Delhi.