Anti-stubble-burning move backfires: Paddy waste left to rot for over a year in Punjab village

“Strangely, the biomass power plant is operational, but they are picking this stock at a very slow pace. Looking at its condition, we do not even know if they are usable now,” said Avtar Singh, a resident of Chalila village.

The Jalkheri biomass power plant, located about 8 km from this site, is a 10-MW unit originally commissioned by the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) in 1992. It was shut down shortly after commissioning but recommissioned in June 2024 after being leased to a private player. The plant, fully renovated by the company, has a stated capacity to consume one lakh tonnes of paddy stubble annually.

While the plant is reportedly operational and supplying power to PSPCL under a purchase agreement, locals question why the stock languishing here was never utilised. “The plant is working and claims to be 100% environment-friendly. Then why was this stock collected if it was not going to be used?” asked Surjit Singh, a villager.

Just a few kilometres away, near the Fatehgarh Sahib border, another batch of paddy stubble wrapped in tarpaulin sheets has been lying unused for months. “The sheets were yellow when wrapped. They have turned white now—that is how long it has been,” said a regular commuter on the route. This stock reportedly belongs to an animal feed company.

Amid the ongoing campaign against stubble burning, farmer leaders say such neglect sends a contradictory message. “If they want to stop stubble burning, the area should be cleared and prepared for fresh storage,” said Jagmohan Singh Patiala, state general secretary of farmers’ union Bhartiya Kisan Union (Dakaunda).

‘Will be cleared soon’

Jaspreet Singh, the fuel head at Jalkheri biomass power plant, said the stock would be cleared soon. “This time, it was a 93-day-long monsoon, so it became difficult to clear this stock. However, a year ago, the stock was 10 times more than what it is today. The remaining stock will also be cleared up in the coming months. The plant initially could not operate at full capacity and gradually picked up its pace. We are concerned about the environment, and we will clear this place in the coming months,” he added.

When contacted, Harjeet Singh, Director (Generation), PSPCL, said, “We are receiving power from the Jalkheri biomass power plant as per the power purchase agreement. As for the stubble lying in the fields, we have no information since it does not fall under our purview.”

Meanwhile, Mohit Singla, Executive Engineer, Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB), Fatehgarh Sahib, said the onus was on the company. “They have stored it on that land and are using it gradually in their power plant. It is the prerogative of the company to use it as per its requirement. Otherwise… stubble is always stored in the open only,” he added.