Punjab has recorded a 72% decline in stubble burning incidents this season, marking a significant improvement in air quality efforts and crop residue management across the state’s paddy-growing areas. According to data from the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB), only 415 farm fire cases have been reported so far, compared to 1,510 in 2024 and 1,764 in 2023 during the same period. On Tuesday, 62 new farm fire cases were registered, with Tarn Taran leading at 136 incidents, followed by Amritsar with 120. Last year, Punjab recorded a total of 10,909 stubble burning cases, with Sangrur topping the list at 1,725.
Delayed Paddy Harvest Behind Lower Stubble Burning Numbers
Experts attribute this sharp fall in stubble burning in Punjab to delayed paddy harvesting caused by unseasonal rainfall in early October. The PPCB reports that only 31.58% of the 31.72 lakh hectares under paddy cultivation have been harvested so far. While Amritsar and Tarn Taran have crossed the 50% mark in harvesting, Patiala, Barnala, Bathinda, Ludhiana, Sangrur, Mansa, and Ferozepur — all part of the Malwa region, which contributes heavily to farm fires — remain below 35%.
A senior PPCB official noted that early harvesting in the Majha region was delayed due to flood damage, resulting in fewer fire cases. “The numbers are low this year, and overall stubble burning incidents have been consistently declining,” the official said.
Tight Monitoring and Crop Residue Management Drive Results
The Punjab government’s strict monitoring system and emphasis on sustainable crop residue management have been pivotal in reducing farm fire incidents. Officials confirmed that 152 “red entries” have been made in land records of violators, restricting them from obtaining agricultural loans or selling their farmland. Additionally, the state imposed environmental compensation worth ₹8.05 lakh in 162 cases, recovering ₹5.65 lakh so far. Punjab Police have filed 149 FIRs against farmers involved in stubble burning, including 61 in Tarn Taran alone. The government has also issued show-cause notices to 172 nodal officers for negligence in monitoring.
Political Row Over Pollution Blame Game
As Delhi’s air quality worsened post-Diwali, political debate reignited over stubble burning in Punjab. BJP IT Cell chief Amit Malviya accused AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal of failing to curb stubble fires, stating, “Unless Kejriwal–ruled Punjab stops burning stubble, Delhi and NCR will continue to choke. It’s not Diwali’s lamps but the government’s smoke that darkens Delhi’s skies.” Farmer unions have strongly rejected these allegations. Jagmohan Singh, General Secretary of Bharatiya Kisan Union (Dakaunda), said,
“Scientific studies have shown that stubble burning contributes only 6%–8% to Delhi’s air pollution. The number of farm fires in Punjab has already dropped by 75% this year. Farmers are unfairly targeted.” Echoing the sentiment, Sarwan Singh Pandher, another farmer leader, added, “Even when farm fires stop in December, Delhi’s air quality remains poor. It’s wrong to blame Punjab’s farmers alone.”