Air quality management panel member visits villages in Amritsar

A team of officials of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) visited different areas here on Saturday to review pollution caused by paddy stubble burning. As part of this initiative, CAQM observer Dr Yashpal Yadav and officials from the Punjab Pollution Control Board visited Raiya and Nijjar villages in Baba Bakala block.

During the visit, Dr Yadav interacted with local farmers and baler operators to understand the challenges they face in managing crop residue. He also discussed better methods of stubble management to prevent stubble burning and reduce air pollution.

Dr Rashpal Singh, Block Agriculture Officer, Baba Bakala Sahib, briefed the team about the various awareness activities and initiatives being undertaken by the district administration and the Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Department to discourage farmers from burning paddy stubble. The team was shown how balers were being used in the fields for efficient stubble collection and management.

The CAQM observer expressed satisfaction over the proper functioning of agricultural machinery at Custom Hiring Centres and the effective use of subsidised machines for stubble management in the block.

Agriculture officials, including AEOs Prabhjot Singh (Wadala Kalan), Satwant Kaur (Khalchian), Tanvir Singh, Tarsem Singh, Baldev Singh and Manbir Singh were present during the visit.