In order to effectively curb the menace of stubble burning during ensuing paddy harvesting season, the Punjab Pollution Control Board has ordered that combine harvester machines functioning without super straw management system (SMS) will be impounded. PPCB has urged the combine harvester operators to get the Super SMS fitted on their machines. No harvester combine shall be allowed to harvest paddy without functional Super Straw Management System. Environmental compensation shall be imposed by the PPCB on defaulters. This fine would be of Rs. 50,000, Rs 75,000 and Rs 100,000 for first, second and third violation, respectively, and Rs 100,000 on each violation subsequent to the third violation. 

• The use of super SMS with combine harvester helps to facilitate in situ management of crop residue, the super SMS attached to the rear of a combine harvester chops and uniformly spreads loose straw on the field. With this method, the farmers are not required to burn the straw before sowing the next crop.
• There are nearly 12,000 combine harvesters in Punjab, of which 5,000 are fitted with super SMS.

What can be a viable solution?

• A farmer’s economic compulsions dominate his decision to burn stubble.
• Incentives from power generators and ethanol manufactures to farmers bringing stubble will provide solution for this.
• Super SMS (straw management system) is an attachment that fits onto the combine harvesters for paddy, spreads residue evenly over the field.
• It should be deployed while cutting the stubbles.
• Initiatives should be taken to market biochar as a nutrient and private players should be involved for the infrastructures required.