New Delhi: In a crucial move to tackle air pollution ahead of the winter season, the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) held high-level review meetings this week with the governments of Punjab and Haryana. The discussions focused on key environmental issues, including stubble burning, vehicular emissions, and road dust abatement, reports The Indian Express.
According to a statement issued by the Commission on Saturday, the meetings were held on Thursday in Chandigarh, with participation from the Chief Secretaries and senior officials of both states. During the review with Haryana, the Commission evaluated the state’s action plan aimed at eliminating paddy stubble burning by 2025. The discussion also included measures such as the use of paddy straw-based biomass pellets in brick kilns and the state’s adherence to emission norms in thermal power plants. A key focus was on achieving the target of five percent biomass co-firing in these plants by 2025–26.
The CAQM further reviewed Haryana’s progress in curbing vehicular pollution. This included the phasing out of diesel autorickshaws, removal of end-of-life vehicles, the installation of automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras as directed earlier in April, and the promotion of clean mobility among aggregators, delivery services, and inter-city buses. Progress on mitigating road dust through the redevelopment of identified roads was also discussed.
In the meeting with Punjab, the Commission focused primarily on the implementation of the state’s approved plan to eliminate stubble burning by 2025. Similar concerns regarding the use of biomass pellets in brick kilns and the compliance of thermal power plants with emission standards were raised. Measures to control vehicular emissions were also evaluated.
On the day following the meetings, the CAQM conducted field visits across both states to assess on-ground progress. The inspections included sites such as pelletisation units, compressed bio-gas plants, biomass power facilities, second-generation ethanol units, and industrial boilers.
The Commission underscored the urgent need for enhanced coordination among departments, focused and timely implementation of action plans, and strict enforcement of existing directives. It called for sustained and collective efforts from all stakeholders to ensure meaningful and measurable improvements in air quality, particularly in light of the deteriorating conditions typically experienced during the winter months.
