In a pioneering initiative aimed at addressing stubble burning and alleviating air pollution, Punit Renjen, Deputy-Chair of SAP and Global CEO Emeritus of Deloitte, revealed encouraging outcomes from their pilot project initiated earlier this year across nine districts of Haryana.

Renjen revealed that the initiative is on track to achieve a 58% reduction in fire incidents in the coming year. The program, implemented in collaboration with the Haryana government, has now set its sights on expanding into Punjab by 2024, marking a pivotal step in addressing the widespread environmental concern.

"We're also working with the Punjab government. We hope we can extend it to entire state of Punjab by 2024," Renjen said.

Renjen emphasised the need for a collaborative approach involving businesses, government entities, and non-government organisations to address the persistent issue of stubble burning.

He stated, "It is a solve-able problem, requires focus and collaborative effort. 25% of air quality situation is because of stubble burning."

The pilot project, launched in Karnal and subsequently expanded to eight additional districts in Haryana, showcased a five-step program.

The steps include communication and engagement with farmers, leveraging technology through a dedicated app for equipment allocation, orchestrating efforts, and establishing a comprehensive ecosystem to support sustainable practices.

Renjen expressed optimism about extending the initiative to the entire state of Punjab by 2024, highlighting the importance of collective action in achieving meaningful results.

"Requires collaborative effort between business, govt and other non-govt entities," he reiterated.

The Government of Haryana, with support from Deloitte, launched a pilot climate leadership project on 'Crop Residue Management' (CRM) earlier this year. The initiative aims to reduce stubble burning incidents and manage the air pollution situation in the region.

Renjen concluded by disclosing plans to bring the global SAP board to India next October but expressed concern about choosing a suitable location due to air quality concerns.

Watch video for full interview