Flying squads deployed in Punjab and Haryana to check stubble burning

New Delhi: The Centre’s Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) today said it has deployed flying squads in 16 districts of Punjab and 10 districts of Haryana to prevent stubble burning during the paddy season. Meanwhile, paddy straw management cells will soon be set up in Mohali and Chandigarh to enhance coordination between the states and the Centre, a Centre official said.

The decision has been taken at a time when the Supreme Court has questioned the action of CAQM to curb pollution. The CAQM official said the Punjab and Haryana governments have chalked out massive plans to prevent burning of paddy straw during the 2024 kharif season. Apart from this, flying squads of the Central Pollution Control Board have been deployed in both the states for the next two months.

These teams will coordinate with the state government. The 16 districts where flying squads have been deployed are Amritsar, Barnala, Bathinda, Faridkot, Fatehgarh Sahib, Fazilka, Ferozepur, Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Ludhiana, Mansa, Moga, Muktsar, Patiala, Sangrur and Tarn Taran.