From Waste to Fuel: India’s New Plan to Tackle Stubble Burning!
Hello Businessman!
Let’s talk about a big step being taken to clean up our air, especially around the National Capital Region (NCR). We all know about the problem of paddy stubble burning – where farmers burn leftover crop straw in their fields after harvest. It’s a “grave concern” because it creates a lot of air pollution that has a “high impact on air quality” in the NCR and surrounding areas.
But now, there’s a powerful commission stepping in with a smart solution:
The Big Player: The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), created by the Indian government, is on a mission to improve air quality. They have the power to issue specific instructions to achieve this.
The Smart Solution: The CAQM is making it mandatory for brick kilns (those places that make bricks) in Punjab and non-NCR districts of Haryana to use paddy straw-based bio-mass pellets or briquettes as fuel
Why This is a Game-Changer:
Stops Burning: Instead of being burned in fields, paddy straw will now be collected and processed into fuel. This is called “ex-situ utilisation” (using it away from the original site) and it’s an “effective means” to manage the straw and prevent open burning.
◦ Dual Benefits: It’s a win-win! It helps prevent harmful air pollution AND offers “economic value to farmers” and others involved in getting the straw ready.
◦ Clean & Effective Fuel: Studies show that these paddy straw pellets are a great substitute for coal. They offer “comparable characteristics” and “calorific value” (meaning they burn just as well) without “any technical limitations” for brick kilns, while still maintaining the quality of the brick. In fact, they are seen as the most “economical permissible option” for brick kilns now that coal is largely banned for industrial use in the NCR.
◦Huge Potential: There are a lot of brick kilns in these areas – about 940 in non-NCR Haryana and 2050 in Punjab – which means a massive amount of paddy straw can be put to good use.
The Plan and Timeline:
The goal is to completely eliminate open paddy stubble burning. To achieve this, the use of paddy straw pellets will increase over the next few years:
At least 20% of the fuel must be paddy straw pellets by November 1, 2025.
This will increase to 30% by November 1, 2026.
Then to 40% by November 1, 2027.
And finally, 50% by November 1, 2028.
Backed by Experts & Courts:
This isn’t a rushed decision. It’s based on extensive discussions with state governments and backed by a report from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Even the Supreme Court has approved the CAQM’s recommendations!
This move is a significant step towards cleaning our air, turning agricultural waste into a valuable resource, and supporting farmers in a new way.