Patiala, April 30: The Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) has completed a large-scale training program for over 13,000 waste and horticulture workers, marking a significant step in the state’s air quality management strategy. The statewide drive, which concluded this week, reached frontline staff across 166 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) to address the environmental impact of open garbage burning.
PPCB Chairperson Reena Gupta stated that the initiative is the first in the country to focus on empowering grassroots workers rather than relying solely on enforcement. She maintained that recent air quality studies have identified the open burning of municipal solid waste as a primary source of particulate pollution in Punjab. The board carried out 216 training batches since the program’s launch in Patiala last November.
The curriculum, developed by the Centre for Study of Science, Technology and Policy, provided workers with practical knowledge on scientific waste handling and source segregation. Officials asserted that the sessions also integrated ethical and cultural perspectives by referencing religious scriptures to encourage environmental stewardship.
Chairperson Reena Gupta noted that while the board is focusing on education, legal consequences for open burning remain severe. She affirmed that violations can result in punitive fines of up to Rs 25,000. She further declared that waste workers are the “backbone” of the state’s environmental ecosystem and their active involvement is critical for a healthier Punjab.
The program was launched as part of the “Mission Clean Air Patiala” campaign in collaboration with Municipal Commissioner Paramjit Singh and Member Secretary Lavneet Dubey. Board officials asserted that moving toward proactive grassroots empowerment marks a strategic shift in how the state manages urban environmental governance.
