CHENNAI: Indian Institute of Technology-Madras is taking up academia-industry collaboration for technology development in thermal power generation using paddy straw as fuel, the institute said on Thursday. The tie-up aims to tackle stubble burning, which is often cited as the reason for smog and air pollution in New Delhi, a release said.
Stubble burning causes soil erosion, kills beneficial soil organisms and emits harmful gases such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide and methane along with particulate matter.
Punjab and Haryana alone produce 35 million tonnes of paddy straw per year, which is not fit for cattle feed, and are being burnt in the fields, the release said adding that the same straw has the useful heating value of around 3200 to 3500 K Cal/kg, which is closer to coal being used for power generation in thermal power plants.
