Centre's Air Quality panel deploys flying squads in Haryana, Punjab to monitor stubble burning

New Delhi [India], October 1 (ANI): With the onset of stubble burning season, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has deployed 'flying squads' in several districts of Haryana and Punjab to monitor incidents of paddy stubble burning.
Flying Squads will assess the ground-level situation and report to the Commission and Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) "on a daily basis", including the steps taken to prevent further incidents of paddy stubble burning in the allocated district, the Ministry of Environment said.
The announcement comes days after the Supreme Court rapped the CAQM for not taking concrete steps to curb air pollution in the national capital region (NCR) and acting only as a "silent spectator". CAQM is the pollution watchdog for Delhi and adjoining areas.
The latest figures from Punjab and Haryana over the past week showed a spike in stubble burning compared to last year, raising alarms as yet another Delhi winter approaches.
In a recent statement, the Ministry of Environment said the Flying Squads of CPCB, assisting CAQM, have been deployed to identified hotspot districts in Punjab and Haryana from 01.10.2024 to 30.11.2024, where paddy stubble burning incidences are generally higher.
The flying squads have been deployed in 16 districts of Punjab and 10 districts of Haryana. "Flying squads deployed will closely coordinate with the concerned authorities/officers at the district level/nominal officers appointed by the respective State Government," the statement read.
Sixteen (16) districts of Punjab where Flying Squads have been deployed are Amritsar, Barnala, Bathinda, Faridkot, Fatehgarh Sahib, Fazilka, Firozpur, Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Ludhiana, Mansa, Moga, Muktsar, Patiala, Sangrur and Tarn Taran. Ten (10) districts of Haryana where Flying Squads have been deployed are Ambala, Fatehabad, Hisar, Jind, Kaithal, Karnal, Kurukshetra, Sirsa, Sonipat and Yamunanagar.
"Flying Squads will assess the ground-level situation in close coordination with the authorities concerned and report to the Commission and CPCB on a daily basis, including the steps taken to prevent further incidents of paddy stubble burning in the allocated district," the statement read.
Moreover, CAQM would soon be setting up a "Paddy Stubble Management" Cell at Mohali/ Chandigarh during the paddy-harvesting season to closely coordinate with the Agriculture Department and other concerned agencies in the State Govts. of Punjab and Haryana and the Flying Squads deputed to various districts in these two states.
Stubble burning has become a pressing concern in Delhi as the onset of winter traps pollutants, leading to hazardous air quality and thick smog. The burning of crop residue in neighbouring states significantly worsens pollution, posing severe health risks to residents. (ANI)