Chandigarh, June 4 -- In a step aimed at curbing air pollution from crop residue burning, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has issued fresh directives to the state governments of Punjab and Haryana, mandating the use of paddy straw-based biomass pellets and briquettes as fuel in all brick kilns located beyond the National Capital Region (NCR).

In its order issued on Tuesday, CAQM emphasised the urgent need to control pollution caused by the open burning of paddy stubble, particularly in the wake of its severe impact on air quality in Delhi-NCR during the post-harvest months.

Paddy straw burning in Punjab and Haryana is one of the reasons behind the alarming spike in air pollution in the NCR in October and November. As th...