Lok Sabha Question No. 2358 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-04
Subject: Check on Stubble Burning
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Kumari Selja

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2358

TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.08.2025

## Check on Stubble Burning

## 2358.  KUMARI SELJA:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) the  main  reasons  of  air  pollution  in  the  areas  around  Punjab,  Haryana,  Delhi, Chandigarh in North India;
- (b) whether  the  stubble  burning  by  farmers  is  the  main  reason  for  the  increasing  air pollution or is there any other reason as well and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  made  any  plan  to  control  air  pollution  and  check  on stubble burning; and
- (d) if so, the details and outcomes thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

## (a) & (b):

Air pollution in Delhi - National Capital Region (NCR) is a collective result of multiple factors including high level of anthropogenic activities in the high-density populated areas in NCR, arising  from  various  sectors viz.  Vehicular  Pollution,  Industrial  Pollution,  Dust  from Construction & Demolition activities, Road Dust, Biomass Burning, Municipal Solid Waste burning  etc.  During  winter  months,  lower  temperature,  lower  mixing  heights,  temperature inversion conditions and stagnant winds lead to trapping of the pollutants resulting in high pollution in the region. Stubble or biomass burning after harvesting is also one of the main reasons for the increasing air pollution  in  Delhi-  NCR  during  winter  season.  Incidences  of paddy stubble burning in the northern states of Punjab, Haryana, NCR districts of UP and other areas in NCR are a matter of concern and impact the air quality in the NCR, particularly in the period during October and November.

## (c) & (d):

The  Government  has  undertaken  various  measures  to  mitigate  air  pollution  caused  due  to stubble burning, which are mentioned below:

-  A  Comprehensive  Framework  has  been  prepared  by  Commission  for  Air  Quality Management  in  National  Capital  Region  and  Adjoining  Areas  (CAQM)  for  control /elimination of  crop residue burning, based  on  discussions held with the state governments  of  Punjab,  Haryana,  Uttar  Pradesh,  Rajasthan,  Government  of  NCT  of Delhi,  State  Pollution  Control  Board  of  NCR  States  and  Delhi  Pollution  Control Committee (DPCC) and various stakeholders viz. Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR), Indian Agriculture Research
- Institute (IARI). Accordingly, NCR states have been directed to draw up detailed statespecific action plans based on the major contours of the framework
-  Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW) in 2018 launched scheme for providing subsidy for purchase of crop residue management machinery and establishment of custom hiring centres (CHCs) in NCT of Delhi and the States of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh for in-situ management of paddy straw. MoA&FW in 2023 revised guidelines under the scheme to support establishment of crop residue/paddy straw supply  chain,  by  providing  financial  assistance  on  the  capital  cost  of  machinery  and equipment.
-  An Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) has been constituted in December, 2023 under the  chairmanship  of  Special  Secretary,  MoA&FW  for  convergence  of  scheme  of Schemes/Initiatives  supporting  Ex-situ  management  of  paddy  straw.  The  IMC  holds regular  meetings  with  State  Governments  for  effective  monitoring  and  prevention  of stubble burning incidents in these states.
-  Ministry of  Petroleum and Natural  Gas  (MoPNG)  has launched a scheme to provide financial  assistance  to  Compressed  Bio-gas  producers  for  procurement  of  biomass aggregation equipment for ex-situ management of paddy straw.
-  Central  Pollution  Control  Board  (CPCB)  has  framed  Guidelines  for  grant  of  one-time financial  support  under  Environment  Protection  Charge  funds  for  establishment  of pelletization and Torrefaction plants to promote utilisation of paddy straw.
-  CAQM has issued directions to all the Coal based Thermal Power Plants located within 300 Kms radius of Delhi to co-fire biomass based pellets, torrefied pellets/ briquettes (upto 5-10%) with coal to promote use of biomass.
-  CAQM has issued directions to State Governments of Punjab and Haryana to mandate use of paddy straw-based biomass pellets / briquettes in all brick kilns located in the districts beyond NCR, as  one  of the  means  towards  elimination  of  the  practice  of  open  paddy stubble burning.
-  In  order  to  deter  Paddy  straw  burning  in  the  agriculture  fields,  this  Ministry,  vide notification  no.  G.S.R.  690(E)  dated  06.11.2024,  has  issued  the  Commission  for  Air Quality  Management  in  National  Capital  Region  and  Adjoining  Areas  (Imposition, Collection and Utilization of Environmental Compensation  for Stubble Burning) Amendment Rules, 2024 for levying Environmental Compensation on  the stubble burning incidents.

Due to the efforts made by all stakeholders, continuous decrease has been observed in Paddy Stubble Burning events in Punjab & Haryana. The number of such events for the states of Punjab and Haryana during harvesting season 15 th  September to 30 th  November for 2021-24 is given below.

| State   |   2021 |   2022 |   2023 |   2024 |
|---------|--------|--------|--------|--------|
| Punjab  |  71304 |  49922 |  36663 |  10909 |
| Haryana |   6987 |   3661 |   2303 |   1406 |

The above status shows that Paddy Stubble Burning events have reduced by 84.70 % and 79.87 % respectively in Punjab and Haryana in year 2024 when compared with year 2021.

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