National/ Punjab Desk
1 October
Sandeep Dhand Ludhiana
The Centre’s Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) announced today that flying squads have been deployed in 16 districts of Punjab and 10 districts of Haryana to prevent stubble burning during the ongoing paddy season. This step follows the Supreme Court’s inquiry into CAQM’s measures to tackle pollution, emphasizing the urgency to address crop residue burning.
Paddy stubble management cells are also being set up in Mohali and Chandigarh to facilitate better coordination between the Centre and the state governments. The aim is to minimize pollution caused by burning paddy stubble, which has been a major contributor to air quality deterioration, especially during winter.
The Punjab and Haryana governments have drafted large-scale plans to prevent stubble burning during the 2024 monsoon season. Alongside flying squads from CAQM, teams from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) will operate in both states for the next two months to oversee and ensure compliance with anti-burning measures.
The districts in Punjab where flying squads have been deployed include Amritsar, Barnala, Bathinda, Faridkot, Fatehgarh Sahib, Fazilka, Ferozepur, Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Ludhiana, Mansa, Moga, Muktsar, Patiala, Sangrur, and Tarn Taran. These efforts aim to reduce air pollution and promote sustainable farming practices.