Punjab and Haryana See Sharp Fall in Farm Fires
Punjab and Haryana has record sharp decline in farm fires during 2025 paddy harvesting season.
The paddy harvesting season for 2025 has concluded, with Punjab and Haryana reporting a significant drop in stubble-burning incidents. This also marks the end of the official monitoring period for farm fires, which runs annually from 15 September to 30 November as per ISRO’s standard protocol.
Steady Reduction in Farm Fire Cases
There has been a steady reduction recorded in recent years under the Commission for Air Quality Management’s (CAQM) coordinated framework to curb paddy stubble burning incidents in the region. While meteorological conditions also influence air quality scenario in Delhi-NCR, the substantial reduction in farm fires this season has considerably limited the potential episodic deterioration driven by stubble-burning contributions.
Punjab Records Lowest Fire Counts Since Monitoring Began
Haryana Shows Similar Improvement
Haryana maintained its performance as well, logging 662 farm fire incidents this year. The State registered a 53% reduction from 2024, 71% reduction from 2023, 81% from 2022 and 91% from 2021. These numbers represent the most significant decline achieved since CAQM began monitoring State-specific crop residue management measures as per their Action Plans.
Factors Behind the Decline
The reduction in Punjab and Haryana is the result of multiple measures working together. State and district-level action plans, greater availability and use of crop residue management equipment, and stricter enforcement all played a role. In addition, there has been increased ex-situ utilisation of paddy straw, including its use for biomass energy generation, industrial boilers, bio-ethanol production, and co-firing in thermal power plants and brick kilns, as well as in packaging and other commercial applications.
Monitoring and Coordination Efforts
CAQM facilitated coordination between State Agriculture Departments, district authorities, and field teams. Inspections by flying squads, ground-level monitoring across hotspot districts, and awareness campaigns for farmers contributed to the overall decline. A dedicated CAQM Cell in Chandigarh now oversees year-round monitoring of stubble management activities.
With continued implementation of stubble-management measures in Punjab, Haryana, and NCR states, officials expect further improvements in the region’s air quality in the coming years.
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