Punjab and Haryana Recorded 90% Reduction in Farm Fire Incidences in 2025

In a response to a question in the parliament, India’s Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change informed that Punjab and Haryana have collectively recorded about 90% reduction in crop residue burning incidents during the paddy harvesting season in 2025 in comparison to the same period in 2022.

In its response, the Environment Ministry further outlined a multi‑layered mechanism for monitoring paddy stubble burning in the States of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and the NCT of Delhi to control air pollution from stubble burning.

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) is a statutory body under the Ministry of the Environment, established to improve coordination, research, identification, and resolution of air quality issues in the Delhi-NCR and Adjoining Areas.

In 2021, CAQM issued a Standard Protocol for Estimation of Crop Residue Burning Fire Events using Satellite Data, which was developed by ISRO in consultation with State Remote Sensing Centres and the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI). 

The active fire locations of crop-residue (parali) burning are detected operationally during satellite overpasses. In addition to it, the burn scar (area) is also assessed using suitable satellite data.

Reporting of paddy stubble burning incidents as per standard protocol during the paddy harvesting season through the Remote Sensing Centre, and ensuring that alerts are sent to field functionaries to take immediate action on incidents of stubble burning.

The protocol is used to monitor crop residue burning events, and IARI, through its CREAMS Laboratory, publishes daily fire event data for the States of Haryana, Delhi, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan based on this protocol.

Regional monitoring of stubble burning using satellite data has been successful. However, satellite overpasses at the sub-daily level help increase detection efficiency. To further strengthen the detection of stubble-burning cases, enforcement agencies have enhanced late-evening patrols.

During the stubble burning season of 2025 (October – November), 31 flying squads by CPCB were deployed to assist CAQM for intensified monitoring and enforcement actions towards the prevention of paddy stubble burning incidents in 18 districts of Punjab and 13 districts of Haryana.

These teams provide daily updates, photographic evidence, and compliance status. The flying squads coordinated with State government officers and authorities from the respective districts and submitted daily reports to CAQM. 

Monitoring is also conducted through the appointment of officers at various administrative levels and the deployment of the Parali Protection Force (PPF).

In the State of Punjab, 10,500 field functionaries have been appointed to monitor and contain crop residue burning in 2025. Furthermore, the PPF of 1,700 personnel has been deployed at the block level, alongside nodal/cluster officers, to ensure effective enforcement of measures to prevent and control stubble burning.

A regular monthly review at the level of the Chief Secretary, Govt. of Punjab, with DCs/SSPs, was conducted to monitor stubble-burning incidents. Similarly, 10,000 nodal officers have been appointed in Haryana State to effectively enforce measures to prevent and control stubble burning.

In addition to the above-mentioned measures, the Government has regularly reviewed and monitored actions taken to address air pollution, including stubble-burning-related issues, in Delhi-NCR and adjoining areas.

In October 2025, a Minister-level Inter-Ministerial Meeting was held under the Co-chairmanship of the Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the Minister for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare on the issues of management of Crop Residue Burning.

In November 2025, CAQM conducted field visits in Punjab to assess the ground situation on crop residue management and enforcement activities aimed at reducing stubble-burning incidents.

Furthermore, regular review meetings have been held between August 2025 and January 2206 under the chairmanship of the Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, on the issues relating to air pollution control in Delhi-NCR, to deliberate upon the undertaking of air pollution abatement measures and strategies for further strengthening air quality management across the region.

As a result of these coordinated efforts, the States of Punjab and Haryana recorded a collective reduction of about 90% in fire incidents during the paddy harvesting season in 2025 compared to the same period in 2022.