New Delhi: The NITI Aayog has asked the Indian Agriculture Research Institute to expeditiously conduct field trials of a technology that allows paddy straw to decompose in fields as concerns mount over growing air pollution in the capital due to stubble burning in neighbouring states.The Aayog will work out a fiscal package for quick adoption of the technology from next year after the field trials, said a senior government official.“Technology of decomposing straw in situ is available at the lab level. We have to standardise it and test it on the fields,” said NITI Aayog member Ramesh Chand.The idea is to use decomposers either in the form of liquid that can be sprayed on the fields or use capsules that can decompose paddy or wheat straws on the farm itself in three-four weeks after which they can be ploughed back into the soil.A scheme could be rolled out next year before the onset of paddy harvest to avoid a repeat of the emergency-like situation in the National Capital Region (NCR) largely on account of stubble burning around this time of year.Air pollution levels in the NCR breached the 500-level mark on the air quality index (AQI) in the first week of November, prompting the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority to declare it a public health emergency which resulted in closure of nearly 600 schools in the NCR. Subsequently, the AQI level shot up further to 900-mark in certain areas of Delhi, forcing the government to call a highlevel meeting to chalk out a strategy.The capital heaved a sigh of relief over the following weekend, with clear skies and AQI hovering between ‘moderate’ (100-200) and ‘poor’ (200-300) levels.