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Biomass Energy Could Be An Effective Solution To Waste Disposal, Burning Crop Stubble: Punjab Chief Minister
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh said pollution levels can considerably come down with a centralised system which could be used for generating biomass energy by mixing solid waste and stubble from harvested crops
Highlights
- Punjab generates 4,250 tonnes of municipal solid waste generated everyday
- 60 per cent of Delhi's pollution comes from stubble burning in Punjab
- Punjab aims to covert solid waste and stubble into biomass energy
Chandigarh: From handling municipal, toxic, industrial to household wastes, the problem of waste management has been escalating in every part of India. Since the launch of Swachh Bharat Mission, every state is maintaining cleanliness levels by bringing in provisions to tackle waste management issues. Punjab is the latest state to identify waste disposal as a grave problem and bring in a change at the policy level. Recently Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh directed state officials to tackle garbage disposal and stubble burning problems in a distinctive way.
To eliminate garbage accumulation and stubble burning problem, CM Amarinder asked the officials to explore the production of biomass energy by mixing stubble with municipal solid waste.
This enables common centralised processing facilities and sanitary land filling, which is beneficial for urban local bodies on account of the land constraints, besides being cost-effective.
For a state which has eight clusters for nearly 4,250 tonnes of municipal solid waste generated everyday, large scale production of biomass energy could be an effective solution to garbage disposing problems said CM Amarinder at a meeting of Local Government department.
Also Read: 5 Cool Waste Management Ideas From The World That India Can Adopt
Apart from being highly beneficial for waste management, biomass energy production could be an answer to the mounting problem of stubble burning of harvested crops.
Burning of stubble is a major source of increasing levels of pollution levels in northern areas, especially in the neighboring areas of New Delhi and Haryana.
Last year Delhi was engulfed in high levels of toxic smog and according to some media reports almost 60 per cent of the pollution was because of the smoke that came in from burning fields in Punjab.
Despite bringing in laws prohibiting burning of stubble, the process is still carried out in large parts of Punjab further disturbing the ecological system.
With inputs from PTI
Also Read: The Weight Of Waste In India: The Need For ‘One Nation, One Policy’