Punjab Soil and Water Conservation Minister Rana Gurjit Singh on Thursday said there is a need to go beyond the issue of stubble burning and tackle air pollution that includes road dust, municipal waste, emissions from burning industries and plastics.
He was speaking at the ‘Vision: Clean Skies for Punjab’ organized by the Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP) in Chandigarh. “Comprehensive solution to tackle air pollution in need of the hour. To do so, government departments have to align their vision,” he said.
The Minister said that in view of the huge agricultural produce of Punjab, there is an urgent need to take immediate measures to tackle the problem of stubble burning. “We will be able to convince farmers to stop burning stubble only when we offer them alternative solutions. Industry, agricultural universities, pollution control boards and the government need to work together to find a holistic solution to manage the issue,” he said. Punjab State Pollution Control Board member secretary Krinesh Garg said stubble should not be seen as a problem but as an opportunity to make fuel or fertilizer. He said that this can help farmers financially while contributing to better air quality.
Mohali Municipal Commissioner Dr Kamal Kumar Garg called for the need to include environmental protection in the manifestos of all political parties. Several recent reports have highlighted the deteriorating air quality of Punjab. While most of the discussions are centered on the issue of stubble burning in winter, the citizens of Punjab are affected by the level of poor air quality throughout the year.
India’s Environment State 2021 reported 41,900 deaths in Punjab due to air quality issues in the state. In 2018, Punjab was among the top four states where maximum cities failed to meet India’s national air quality standards. It is in this context that CSTEP organized the program to find practical solutions to improve the air quality in the state.
Dr Jai Asundi, Executive Director, CSTEP, said, “The primary objective of this discussion is to understand all the causes and effects of air pollution in Punjab, identify practical challenges in policy implementation, accelerate the development of sustainable solutions and build technology. Capacity of State Departments. ,
Dr Pratima Singh, Lead, Center for Air Pollution Studies at CSTEP, said, “The issue of air pollution in Punjab receives a lot of attention during the winter months as stubble burning affects neighboring states like Delhi. But many factors contribute to Punjab’s air pollution. Through these discussions, we look at these factors and through scientific assessments and engaging with local communities, we will create a comprehensive and strategic plan to improve the state’s air quality.
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