Farmer protests in Punjab have forced the closure of several compressed biogas plants meant to curb stubble burning, leaving only five partially operational. The stalled project threatens ongoing efforts against pollution.

Aman Kumar Bhardwaj

In Short

• 4 of 5 compressed Biogas Plants shut down due to protests in Punjab
• CBG plants use stubble, cow dung, sugar industry waste to produce gas
• Farmers allege CBG plants create air pollution, pose health risks

As northern India battles a severe smog crisis exacerbated by stubble burning, an ambitious project intended to tackle agricultural waste is now at a standstill.

Punjab’s initiative to combat pollution with Compressed Biogas (CBG) Plants, touted as a sustainable solution to the stubble-burning problem, has been severely hampered by ongoing farmer protests. The state had planned to operate 38 such plants, yet only five remain functional — none at full capacity.

PROMISE OF COMPRESSED BIOGAS

The CBG plants, designed to convert agricultural residue such as crop stubble, cow dung, and press-mud into compressed natural gas, were envisioned as a dual-purpose solution. These facilities were intended to provide an environmentally friendly method for handling stubble, an agricultural byproduct that, when burned, contributes heavily to air pollution.

Farmers were encouraged to supply their crop residue to these plants rather than burning it, with the hope that it would generate biogas and other byproducts while alleviating pollution.

REALITY CLASHES WITH VISION

However, despite its promise, the project has been met with resistance. Protests have halted the operations of four CBG plants, with farmers arguing that these plants contribute to environmental harm. Farmers also claimed that the facilities pose a health risk to nearby communities, potentially polluting both air and soil.

India Today’s team visited a CBG plant in Gunghrali village (Ludhiana) and found out that the facility that became operational in 2022 has now been lying closed since May this year as the farmer protests did not let it function.

“The plant was established with the aim of tackling the stubble issue and also helping the environment. Today, Punjab is becoming a threat to the industrial sector. A total of Rs 70 crores was spent on establishing the plant. Although the plant is closed due to protests, we are still paying hefty EMIs and salaries to the employees,” Plant Operational Head, Pankaj Singh said.

“Not only this, three other plants in the region are halted, and we have been knocking on doors but nothing has been done by the state,” he added.

Talking about the capacity of the plant, Pankaj Singh said, “In one season, we get 35 thousand tonnes of stubble. With 30 tonnes of stubble in a day, we manufacture eight tonnes of CNG every day”.

UNMET POTENTIAL & ECONOMIC IMPACT

A total of 38 such plants were allotted by the Centre to Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA) but till today, just five could start operations. Pankaj Singh even stressed that if all plants had been operational, the stubble burning issues would have been resolved long ago.

The farmer agitation in Punjab led to the closure of CBG plants at Samrala, Bhuntri in Ludhiana, Akhara in Jagraon.

Baljit Singh, a farmer who initially invested over Rs 2 crore in the CBG project and had previously provided stubble to the plants, told India Today TV that misunderstandings around the purpose of the CBG plants are to blame.

“I had earlier thought about going to Canada, but I invested here in the interest of the environment. However, our farmers did not understand the entire purpose of these plants. We were attached to these plants and the allegations by farmers are baseless. Due to agitation, the plants are closed and as a result, stubble burning is happening rampantly,” he said.

Singh also mentioned that the agitation has driven many farmers back to stubble burning, and the payments for stubble — once as high as Rs 1,650 per quintal — have now dropped to around Rs 150-200.

FARM FIRE & AIR QUALITY WOES

According to data from the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), satellite remote sensing has revealed a significant surge in residue burning events associated with rice harvests in six Indian states. On November 2, satellites detected 861 such incidents, with Punjab notably at the forefront, recording 379 cases.

From September 15 to November 2, a total of 9,376 residue burning incidents were reported across Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.

Punjab led the figures with 3,916 incidents, highlighting its longstanding struggle with managing post-harvest waste. MP followed with 2,302 incidents, UP with 1,272, Rajasthan with 1,036, and Haryana with 838.

The contribution of residue burning to Delhi’s air pollution surged to 35.2 per cent on November 1 from 27.6 per cent the previous day, marking the highest level for this season.

Published Date: November 3, 2024