CS Anurag Rastogi highlights multi-pronged strategy at CAQM Meet
Punjab Newsline, Chandigarh-
The Chairperson of Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), Rajesh Verma, today chaired a meeting regarding implementation of various environmental directives for abatement of air pollution in Haryana. Chief SecretaryAnurag Rastogi unveiled a comprehensive and multi-pronged strategy to combat air pollution across the state, particularly in the NCR region, during the meeting.
The meeting was also attended by senior members of CAQM, Dr. Virinder Sharma and Dr. Sujit Kumar Bajpayee, Additional Chief Secretary, Environment, Forests and Wildlife, Haryana, Anand Mohan Sharan, Chairman, Haryana State Pollution Control Board,Vineet Garg, Additional Chief Secretary, Energy, AK Singh, Commissioner & Secretary, Development & Panchayats, Dr. Saket Kumar and senior officers of various departments were present in the meeting.
After participating in the meeting, astogi said Haryana is fully prepared to eliminate paddy stubble burning in 2025. He informed the Commission that the state has taken proactive steps involving both financial incentives and regulatory actions to address the issue in a holistic manner. Out of the total 41.37 lakh acres under paddy cultivation, the state anticipates a straw generation of approximately 85.50 lakh metric tonnes. Of this, 22.63 lakh acres are under basmati and 18.74 lakh acres under non-basmati cultivation. To support farmers, Haryana is offering financial assistance through three flagship schemes: ₹8000 per acre under “Mera Pani Meri Virasat,” ₹1200 per acre under the Crop Residue Management (CRM) scheme, and ₹4500 per acre for Direct Seeded Rice (DSR). Applications for these schemes are being received through the Meri Fasal Mera Byora portal, ensuring transparency and easy access for farmers. On the enforcement front, the state has also implemented strict measures.
Further, Sh. Rastogi informed the CAQM about Haryana’s aggressive push to mandate the use of paddy straw-based biomass pellets in brick kilns located in non-NCR districts. Under Direction No. 92, a clear implementation timeline has been laid out—requiring 20% biomass usage by November 2025, gradually scaling up to 50% by November 2028. This environmentally sustainable initiative has already received approval from the Chief Minister of Haryana. Sh. Rastogi confirmed that the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for implementation will be issued within 15 days to ensure uniform adoption across all concerned kilns.
To address dust pollution from roads and open areas in the Haryana-NCR region, the Chief Secretary outlined a robust strategy. He had earlier chaired a state-level review directing all departments to submit department-wise final action plans for the financial year 2025–26 along with financial commitments. Each road-owning agency has been asked to develop at least one model road stretch aligned with the Standard Framework prescribed by CAQM. A state-level orientation and training programme was successfully organized by the Directorate of Urban Local Bodies, where detailed presentations were made by officials from CAQM, the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB), Jana Urban Space, and the Raahgiri Foundation.
Rastogi also emphasized the government’s commitment to urban road redevelopment in Gurugram, Faridabad, and Sonipat—three key cities identified for dust abatement. Departments including PWD (B&R), HSVP, HSIIDC, NHAI, FMDA, and SMDA have been instructed to prepare comprehensive proposals covering the redevelopment of sidewalks, greening of medians and traffic islands, paving of road shoulders, and proper disposal and management of construction and demolition (C&D) waste. These efforts aim not only to reduce dust levels but also to improve urban aesthetics and infrastructure quality.
In regard to vehicular pollution, the Chief Secretary outlined the progress made under various CAQM directions, including the phasing out of end-of-life (EOL) vehicles, the promotion of cleaner mobility by delivery aggregators and e-commerce platforms, and the migration of inter-city and All India Tourist Permit buses to cleaner fuels. He reiterated Haryana’s full commitment to shifting public transport fleets, including autorickshaws, to electric or cleaner fuel-based vehicles in a phased manner.
The CAQM Chairperson appreciated Haryana’s data-driven, time-bound, and financially backed roadmap and emphasized the need for Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) activities to raise public awareness about CAQM’s directives and promote greater environmental responsibility.