In a focused drive to accelerate coordinated action against air pollution, the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM), chaired by Mr. Rajesh Verma, held two crucial review meetings on 3rd July 2025 in Chandigarh with the State Governments of Haryana and Punjab. The meetings were attended by Chief Secretaries and senior officials from both states, alongside CAQM Members and officers, and aimed at enhancing inter-departmental coordination and evaluating progress on key sectoral measures to combat air pollution.
Review with Haryana Government
During the meeting with Haryana, the Commission reviewed the State’s preparedness for the elimination of paddy stubble burning in 2025, in line with the approved action plan. Discussions also focused on:
- Utilisation of paddy straw-based biomass pellets in brick kilns
- Compliance with emission norms by thermal power plants
- Progress on 5% biomass co-firing targets for 2025–26
Other critical issues included:
- Road dust mitigation, including redevelopment of identified roads
- Implementation of vehicular emission control measures, including:
- Liquidation of End-of-Life (EoL) vehicles
- Installation of ANPR camera systems (Direction No. 89 dated 23.04.2025)
- Adoption of clean mobility vehicles by aggregators and delivery services
- Migration of buses entering Delhi to cleaner fuel modes
- Phasing out of diesel auto-rickshaws and transitioning inter-city buses to clean energy
Review with Punjab Government
In the subsequent meeting with Punjab, the Commission took stock of the State’s action plan for complete elimination of paddy stubble burning in 2025. The review also included:
- Mandatory biomass pellet use in brick kilns
- Compliance with thermal power plant emission norms
- Implementation of minimum 5% biomass co-firing targets
- Enforcement of directives to curb vehicular pollution, especially restrictions on polluting vehicles entering Delhi and clean energy transition for inter-city buses
CAQM highlighted the urgency of timely and rigorous implementation of all statutory directions to prevent a deterioration in air quality, especially ahead of the winter season.
Field Visits to Ex-situ Stubble Management Projects
On 4th July 2025, CAQM officials conducted field visits in Punjab and Haryana to assess projects related to ex-situ paddy stubble utilisation, including:
- Pelletisation plants
- Compressed Bio-Gas (CBG) plants
- Biomass power generation plants
- 2G ethanol plants
- Industrial boilers
These visits offered valuable insights into the technological and operational efforts being made on the ground.
The Commission reiterated the need for enhanced coordination, strict enforcement, and sustained efforts by all stakeholders. While acknowledging the progress made by both state governments, CAQM urged continued commitment to ensure measurable improvements in air quality, particularly with the winter months approaching.
