Stubble burning drops in all States except Madhya Pradesh, but Delhi still at risk amid GRAP I invoked

There is a delayed harvest of paddy this year due to September rains and also subsequent floods in many areas of the two States
| Photo Credit:
SHIVA SHARMA

Stubble burning, which is associated with rice-wheat cropping pattern, incidents in Punjab and Haryana have dropped 88 per cent to only 201 in the past 30 days this year. However, with worsening AQI level in the national capital region of Delhi ahead of Diwali, for which restrictions under GRAP I was invoked on October 14, and the recent court order allowing bursting of fire crackers may negate the impact of lower stubble burning incidents on the air quality.

While the number of stubble burning incidents in Haryana in the first one month after monitoring started from September 15 during 2024 increased 20 per cent, there was 96 per cent decline to only 25 cases between September 15 and October 15, 2025. On the other hand, there was second year of successive decline in Punjab.

According to latest data, Punjab had witnessed 84 per cent dip in cases to only 176 against 1,113 year-ago. In the first 30 days of 2024 season also, there was 29 per cent drop in stubble burning incidents.

Many experts attribute the deterioration in air quality index to high number of vehicles on the road. The AQI further worsened to 245 on Thursday.

In the entire paddy harvesting period from September 15 to November 30, as monitored by IARI’s Consortium for Research on Agroecosystem Monitoring and Modeling from Space (CREAMS), Punjab had 10,909 and Haryana had 1,406 incidents of stubble burning in 2024.

There is a delayed harvest of paddy this year due to September rains and also subsequent floods in many areas of the two States. However, the real challenge will come when paddy harvesting picks up after Diwali. It is feared that farmers may have lesser sowing window for wheat crop and there may be a surge in incidents of crop residue burning. Wheat sowing activities normally start from first week of November in Punjab and Haryana.

But, there has been a spurt in case in Madhya Pradesh, which is the only State to report a spike in stubble burning – 39 per cent up to 138 from 99 year-ago.

Though there is a fall of 49 per cent to 271 incidents in Uttar Pradesh, still the number is the highest among all the States. Rajasthan has reported 75 cases, down by 19 per cent from 93 year-ago.

Air pollution

To combat the air pollution in Delhi and surrounding areas, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has invoked Stage I of the Graded Action Response Plan (GRAP) from October 14 after the air quality index (AQI) turned ‘poor’.

“The AQI of Delhi has been recorded 211 on October 14 (‘Poor’ category). Further, the forecast by IMD/IITM has also predicted AQI to remain in ‘Poor’ category in coming days,” CAQM had said in a statement.

The 27-point action plan to be enforced under GRAP Stage I include a ban on coal/firewood as fuel in Tandoors in hotels, restaurants and open eateries, strict vigilance and enforcement of PUC (pollution under control) norms for vehicles and impounding of visibly polluting vehicles. It has authorised Deputy Commissioners/District Collectors/District Magistrates to file a complaint, prosecute before a magistrate in case of inaction of officials responsible for enforcement of elimination of stubble burning in their jurisdiction.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday had permitted the sale and bursting of ‘green’ firecrackers in and the National Capital Region (NCR) of Delhi during Diwali festival with certain conditions.

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan last week chaired a crucial meeting on stubble management along with Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav where both the Central ministers spoke to Agriculture Ministers of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.

Published on October 16, 2025