CAQM reviews preparedness of States for elimination of Stubble Burning in 2026; stresses Strengthened Enforcement, Crop Residue Management and Coordinated Action

The Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM), under the Chairmanship of Shri Rajesh Verma, convened a meeting on 06.05.2026 with senior officials of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, including Deputy Commissioners/District Magistrates of hotspot districts and representatives of State Pollution Control Boards, to review State Action Plans and preparedness for elimination of paddy stubble burning during 2026.

The Commission emphasised the urgent need for systematic and coordinated preparedness ahead of the forthcoming paddy harvesting season. It stressed strengthening both in-situ and ex-situ crop residue management mechanisms, along with focused enforcement and awareness measures, to ensure effective implementation at the field level.

It was observed that stubble burning is not merely a seasonal issue but a larger air pollution mitigation challenge affecting ambient air quality across the region throughout the year. The Commission underlined that elimination of stubble burning requires sustained and coordinated efforts by States, districts and enforcement agencies, with special focus on grassroots-level implementation.

During the meeting, State officials presented their Action Plans for elimination of paddy stubble burning in 2026, including strategies for in-situ crop residue management, ex-situ utilisation of paddy straw and compliance with Direction No. 92 on co-firing of paddy straw-based biomass pellets/briquettes in brick kilns. Discussions were also held on operational and logistical aspects such as timely availability of Crop Residue Management (CRM) machines, promotion of zero stubble burning villages through incentives, intensified IEC activities and enforcement measures.

The Commission also reviewed the implementation of Direction No. 96 regarding wheat stubble management. It was noted that during the period 01.04.2026 to 06.05.2026, Punjab recorded 3,729 fire counts, Haryana reported 2,683 incidents and Uttar Pradesh (NCR) recorded 176 incidents.

Deputy Commissioners/District Magistrates of hotspot districts, including Sangrur, Firozpur and Bathinda in Punjab; Jind, Jhajjar and Sonipat in Haryana; and Gautam Buddha Nagar and Meerut in Uttar Pradesh, presented district-level strategies for crop residue management and measures being undertaken during the ongoing wheat harvesting season.

Following detailed deliberations, the Commission outlined the following action points:

• Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to submit revised and comprehensive Action Plans aligned with prescribed parameters and formats by 11.05.2026.
• States to submit detailed reports on the status of functional CRM machines within two months.
• Punjab and Haryana to submit district-wise reports on co-firing in brick kilns for the period 01.11.2025 to 30.04.2026, along with monthly progress reports thereafter, in a time-bound manner.
• States to strengthen preventive measures to avoid accidental fires leading to spikes in stubble burning.
• Intensification of Information, Education and Communication (IEC) activities for enhancing awareness and compliance.
• Punjab to develop a dedicated portal for monitoring compliance of Direction No. 92, on the lines of the existing portal developed by Haryana.

The concerned stakeholder agencies and officials assured the Commission that necessary measures and coordinated efforts would be undertaken for effective implementation of the State Action Plans and for prevention and elimination of stubble burning during the forthcoming harvesting season.

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VM/GS