Considering the perennial issue of north India’s smog-choked winter, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) is striking at two major pollution culprits – paddy stubble burning and open municipal solid waste (MSW) fires.
Through Statutory Direction No. 92, the commission is mandating brick kilns in non-NCR districts of Haryana and Punjab to co-fire paddy straw-based pellets, aiming for 50 per cent usage by November 2028.
Simultaneously, Direction No. 91 targets fires at sanitary landfills (SLFs) and open MSW burning across the National Capital Region (NCR), tackling toxic emissions head-on to clear the region’s hazy skies.
Why This Matters: A Dual Assault on Air Pollution
North India’s air quality crisis peaks every winter, with Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) often soaring into the “severe” range (above 400).Paddy stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana, coupled with open MSW fires and landfill blazes, are key culprits. In 2024, Punjab recorded over 10,000 stubble fire incidents, contributing up to 40 per cent of Delhi’s pollution on peak days, per the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology.
Meanwhile, MSW burning and landfill fires release harmful pollutants like PM2.5, PM10, dioxins, and methane, exacerbating health risks from asthma to heart disease. The Air Quality Commission’s twin directives aim to curb these sources with innovative and sustainable solutions.
Tackling Paddy Stubble: Brick Kilns As Allies
To combat stubble burning, Direction No. 92 mandates brick kilns in non-NCR areas of Haryana and Punjab to co-fire paddy straw-based pellets or briquettes with coal, following a phased timeline:
November 1, 2025: 20 per cent co-firingThis transforms agricultural waste into a cleaner fuel, reducing emissions from kilns – thousands of which dot the region – and creating a market for paddy straw. Farmers gain an incentive to sell straw rather than burn it, potentially boosting rural economies. State governments must enforce these targets and report monthly to the commission.
Leave a Reply