The farmers of Punjab have found themselves embroiled in protests against the state government’s initiative to establish Compressed Biogas (CBG) Plants, which were intended as a sustainable solution to the pressing issue of stubble burning. This conflict arises amid the worsening air quality crisis affecting Northern India, primarily due to agricultural waste burning, which significantly contributes to seasonal smog.
While the Punjab government announced its plan to install CBG plants to convert agricultural residues—like crop stubble, cow dung, and other organic matter—into compressed natural gas, farmers are raising alarms. The initiative aimed to decrease pollution levels and provide farmers with alternate revenue streams. Still, stumbles have led to only five out of thirty-eight proposed plants becoming operational, many of which are not functioning at full capacity due to these protests.
Farmers argue their concerns reflect broader environmental apprehensions. Amidst the backdrop of increasingly poor air quality, many locals fear these plants may inadvertently pollute their surrounding environment. A visit to one such plant located in Gunghrali village painted a grim picture: operational since 2022 but closed since May due to relentless protests, the facility stands as a stark representation of unmet potential.
Pankaj Singh, the plant's operational head, shared the difficulties they face, stating they spent around Rs 70 crores to establish the facility, and are pouring money down the drain, paying hefty monthly EMIs and employee salaries without generating any output. “Not only this, three other plants are also halted, and we’ve knocked on many doors; still, nothing has changed,” Singh revealed, showcasing the dire circumstances under which the project has floundered.
Baljit Singh, one farmer who had invested significantly—over Rs 2 crore—in the CBG initiative expressed his dismay. He believed he was contributing to environmental welfare, yet he now feels the opportunity lost due to farmer protests and misunderstandings about the project’s benefits. “Many still burned their stubble, leading to pollution even after investing our hopes and resources here,” Singh lamented. The price for stubble—which once soared to Rs 1,650 per quintal—has plummeted to just Rs 150-200, reflecting farmers’ desperation.
The repercussions of this situation have become painfully evident. Data from the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology highlighted rising incidents of crop residue burning, particularly troubling considering the recent recordings on November 2, where Punjab accounted for 379 out of the 861 burning incidents reported from various states. The total global smog crisis threat has, unsurprisingly, deepened as pollution levels soared, and pressure mounted on the CBG initiative.
The Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA) has attempted to advocate for continued engagement with farmers to mitigate misunderstanding about the CBG plants' purpose, emphasizing the need for local stakeholders to see beyond protests for collective progress. With severe air quality marked by high pollution levels linked to stubble burning, the importance of those initiatives circles back. The Punjab government’s discomforting ultimatum looms large: balancing farm productivity and environmental health without infringing on farmer grievances.
State authorities face the immense pressure of rolling out solutions without neglecting the underlying issues triggering opposition from the agricultural community. Reports suggest continued negotiations between farmer unions and government representatives might lead to the possibility of third-party consultation, allowing farmers to voice their concerns and possibly secure conditions under which they might support the initiative.
Even as meetings have aimed to redress farmer worries, progress remains stunted, with agitations showing no signs of abatement. Farmers demand room for their perspectives, emphasizing the need for dialogues with real decision-making power to be held. Until then, the situation remains saturated with frustration, as Punjab inches closer to the onset of winter smog—a dark cloud looming over the state, possibly suffocifying both the initiative aimed at solving the pollution problem and the farmers they intend to serve.
While the intended benefits of the CBG initiative spark hope for reducing air pollution and advancing renewable energy utilization, the inability to address the underlying issues faced by farmers threatens to exacerbate existing grievances. The Punjab government finds itself at a crossroads—the path to resolution must recognize farmers' voices, centering their fears and aspirations to succeed. Only then can the promise of CBG plants become more than just a mirage, turning toward the collective vision of sustainable agriculture and living within Punjab.
