Patiala, November 6: Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) Chairman Rajesh Verma on Thursday commended Punjab’s efforts to curb stubble burning, describing it as the beginning of a “stubble revolution” following the Green Revolution.
Verma was in Patiala to review stubble management efforts and inspect biomass blending at Nabha Power Limited’s Rajpura Thermal Plant. “Farmers are now turning stubble into a source of income,” he said. “This change in mindset is visible across the state.”
Citing his visit to Punjab last year, Verma said, “At this time in 2023, smoke was visible in the skies. Today, it’s clear and bright — proof that Punjab is moving in the right direction.”
CAQM Chairman Rajesh Verma inspects biomass blending at Rajpura Thermal Power Plant during his Patiala visit
Punjab’s Environment Secretary Priyank Bharti and Agriculture Secretary Arshdeep Singh Thind briefed Verma on the state’s efforts to optimize machinery use. “The stubble management season lasts only 40 days. To make machines useful year-round, we are testing their use in handling sugarcane residue after an unsuccessful trial with wheat straw,” they said.
Patiala Deputy Commissioner Dr. Preeti Yadav reported a sharp decline in fire incidents. “Till this date last year, we had 414 fire cases. This year, only 168 have been reported,” she said. Dr. Yadav added that 60 percent of the next crop has already been sown after the completion of paddy harvesting.
“Awareness campaigns, better access to machinery, and farmer cooperation have all contributed to the progress,” she said, noting that in-situ management is being encouraged to boost soil fertility.
At Rajpura Thermal Plant, officials from Nabha Power Limited — Rajesh Kumar, Devdutt Sharma, and Gaganvir Cheema — demonstrated the blending of biomass pellets with coal in the plant’s supercritical boiler.
Punjab Pollution Control Board Chairperson Reena Gupta, Member Secretary Dr. Loveneet Kumar, and senior district officials including SSP Sarfaraz Alam, SP Vaibhav Chaudhary, and SDM Avikesh Gupta were also present during the review.
