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With Diwali approaching and rice harvesting underway, farmers often burn stubble to clear their fields quickly. In the 40-day period from September 15 to October 24, a total of 4,369 stubble-burning incidents were reported in Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh. Over the past five years, incidents of stubble burning have decreased by 77%. According to the monitoring agency CRIMS, approximately 18,775 incidents were reported in the same 40-day period in 2020.
The newly appointed Saini-led government in Haryana has issued strict orders to take action against stubble burning. Satellite monitoring is being used to keep a close watch on the fields. Farmers found burning stubble may face restrictions, including a ban on selling their crops in mandis for the next two seasons, and a "red entry" will be marked on their agricultural records.
Data from the past five years shows a significant reduction in stubble burning cases in Punjab. In 2020, approximately 16,220 incidents were reported between September and October. Haryana has also seen a drop, with 689 cases reported this year, and fewer incidents were noted in Madhya Pradesh compared to the previous year.
In contrast, Delhi has seen a rise in stubble-burning incidents, with 11 cases reported this year—the highest in five years. Stubble smoke contributes around 15-20% to Delhi’s air pollution. Uttar Pradesh also registered approximately 850 stubble-burning cases between September and October, a rise compared to 2020.
Read More... Farmers should not pay attention, if stubble is burnt the government will not buy your paddy
To tackle air pollution, the Commission has instructed the Secretaries of Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, UP, and Rajasthan to review and update their action plans on stubble burning prevention. The state governments of Punjab, Haryana, and UP have been directed to enforce a strict ban on stubble burning of rice crops this season.
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