CAQM Team Reviews Paddy Straw Management in Punjab
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change · Environment · Posted 31 OCT 2026 11:23PM
What happened
A high-level team from the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) reviewed paddy straw management measures and stubble burning prevention in the Punjab districts of Sangrur, Patiala, and Malerkotla. The team inspected in-situ machinery and visited ex-situ facilities including a paper mill utilizing 17,000 MT of paddy straw annually and a pelletizing unit producing biomass fuel for thermal power plants.
Why it matters for UPSC
This release illustrates the institutional mechanisms for tackling regional air pollution and stubble burning under environmental governance, relevant to the UPSC syllabus topic of environmental pollution and conservation.
Key objectives
- Review paddy straw management and control of stubble fires in Sangrur, Patiala, and Malerkotla districts of Punjab.
- Inspect ground-level in-situ machinery such as super seeders and ex-situ utilization facilities like paper mills and pelletizing units.
- Ensure effective coordination and alignment between ground actions and administrative targets set for stubble burning prevention.