New Delhi: The government has successfully reduced stubble burning incidents by about 90% in Punjab and Haryana during the 2025 paddy harvesting season, according to information provided by Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Mr Kirti Vardhan Singh, in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today.
This remarkable improvement has been achieved through a multi-layered monitoring and enforcement system, combining satellite-based detection, field patrolling, and administrative coordination.
Satellite-Based Detection of Stubble Burning
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), in consultation with State Remote Sensing Centres and Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), developed a Standard Protocol for Estimation of Crop Residue Burning Fire Events.
Satellite data is used to detect active fire locations and assess burned areas.
Daily fire event data is published by IARI’s CREAMS Laboratory for states including Haryana, Punjab, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan.
Sub-daily satellite overpasses help increase the efficiency of stubble fire detection.
On-Ground Enforcement and Field Monitoring
To strengthen monitoring and enforcement:
During the 2025 stubble burning season (Oct 1 – Nov 30, 2025), 31 flying squads were deployed by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to assist Central and State Air Quality Monitoring agencies in 18 districts of Punjab and 13 districts of Haryana.
The flying squads provided daily updates, photographic evidence, and compliance reports to the Central Air Quality Monitoring agency.
Punjab appointed 10,500 field functionaries and a Parali Protection Force (PPF) of 1,700 personnel at the block level for enforcement.
Haryana appointed 10,000 nodal officers for effective enforcement of measures to prevent stubble burning.
Regular monthly review meetings were conducted at the level of Chief Secretary with district authorities to monitor progress.
Policy Coordination and Ministerial Oversight
A Minister-level inter-ministerial meeting was held on October 7, 2025, co-chaired by the Ministers for Environment and Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, to discuss crop residue burning management.
Several review meetings were held between August 2025 and January 2026 to assess air pollution control measures in Delhi-NCR and adjoining areas.
The combined efforts of administrative oversight, monitoring technology, and enforcement agencies contributed to the significant reduction in fire incidents.
Impact and Results
The coordinated satellite-based monitoring and field enforcement efforts led to a 90% reduction in stubble burning fire incidents in Punjab and Haryana compared to the same period in 2022.
This reduction has significantly contributed to improved air quality in Delhi-NCR and surrounding regions.
