PUNJAB FINALISES IMPLEMENTATION PLAN TO CURB AIR POLLUTION

The Pioneer , Thursday, December 29, 2016
Correspondent :
Punjab on Wednesday finalised a detailed implementation plan for next year to curb air pollution in the State with focus on pollution reduction due to the burning of crop residue.

The plan components include promotion of e-Rickshaws and CNG fitted vehicles by the state transport department and ensuring the supply of CNG in the State by coordinating with national oil marketing companies.

The implementation plan was finalized in consultation with the departments of Agriculture, Science and Technology, Transport, Local Government, Rural Development, Punjab Agricultural University, Punjab Pollution Control Board and other concerned agencies in a meeting held under the chairmanship of state Chief Secretary Sarvesh Kaushal.

The state Additional Chief Secretary (Development) NS Kalsi said that the management of air pollution levels in the state are being monitored with very stringent timelines by the Supreme Court, Punjab and Haryana High Court, Delhi High Court, the National Green Tribunal and other Central Government agencies.

He said that the State has to utilize all its resources to the maximum capacity to reduce the air pollution levels in the State.

The initiatives discussed to reduce air pollution included PAU-developed straw management system (SMS) appliance which is an attachment to the combine harvesters. In SMS system, as the combine harvests and threshes the paddy, the attached machine behind it evenly distributes the crop residue in the field.

The university official stated that PAU has recently also modified the Happy Seeder itself by attaching a ‘press-wheel’ to the machine, which again helps in formation of uniform rows as the stubble gets settled and enabling the wheat seeds to be neatly sown.

Chief Secretary instructed departments of Agriculture, Science and Technology to coordinate with PAU to take the technology to the farmers and motivate all the farmers of the State to adopt the latest technology.

Punjab Pollution Control Board was also directed to ensure that suitable instructions should be issued to combine harvester to cut the crop very near to the ground level so that very less crop residue remains in the field to burn.

To use crop residue as asset, the Animal Husbandry Department shall finalize a proposal as to how crop residue of paddy can be used as fodder and the Industries Department shall submit a proposal as to how more paddy straw can be used for generation of energy.

It was decided that farmers should be provided with Happy seeders in agricultural fields to ensure removal of agriculture residues and Government shall focus on its utilization for power generation, biomass plants, cement plants, industries manufacturing and Allied products.

Chief Secretary directed all the concerned Departments to provide status reports on all the Air pollution reduction components every fortnight and same shall be reviewed monthly by the Chief Secretary.

 
SOURCE : http://www.dailypioneer.com/state-editions/punjab-finalises-implementation-plan-to-curb-air-pollution.html
 


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