Lok Sabha Question No. 1552 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-09
Subject: Stubble Burning incidents in Punjab
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Smt. Harsimrat Kaur Badal

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1552

TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.02.2026

## Stubble Burning incidents in Punjab

## 1552.  SMT. HARSIMRAT KAUR BADAL:

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

- (a) the  current  number  of  stubble-burning  incidents  reported  from  the  State  of  Punjab  from September to November 2025;
- (b) the major initiatives taken by the State and Centre to prevent stubble burning and curb air pollution in North India;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  introduced  new  incentives  or  penalties  for  farmers  in  this context;
- (d) the budgetary allocation and actual disbursement for in-situ crop residue management  in 2025; and
- (e) the results achieved in reducing air pollution and health hazards vis-a-vis previous years?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  to  (e): As  reported  by  Indian  Agricultural  Research  Institute  (IARI),  paddy  straw  burning incidents reported in State of Punjab during September to November 2025 was 5114.

Government has taken various measures to eliminate the paddy stubble burning. A comprehensive framework for prevention and management of paddy straw was developed by Commission for Air Quality  Management  in  NCR  and  Adjoining  Areas  (CAQM),  followed  by  year-wise,  Statespecific  action  plans  for  Punjab,  Haryana  and  Uttar  Pradesh.  Based  on  the  framework,  State Governments of Punjab, Haryana and UP prepared state specific action plans to address paddy stubble burning.

The Action Plan includes in-situ crop residue management, ex-situ utilization of paddy straw, strict monitoring  and  enforcement,  and  extensive  awareness  campaigns,  all  aimed  at  reducing  the practice of burning agricultural residue after harvest. It also mandates the use of paddy straw-based biomass pellets/briquettes in Coal based Thermal Power Plants and all brick kilns in Delhi NCR.

Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) provides one-time financial support for establishment of pelletisation and Torrefaction plants to promote utilization of paddy straw. An amount of Rs.15.58 crore has been released for 25 plants with capacity of 104.5 Tons per Hour (TPH) and tehse plants are expected to utilize 4.83 lakh tonnes paddy straw annually.

To support the efforts of the Government of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and NCT of Delhi to address air pollution caused due to paddy stubble burning and to subsidize machinery required for management of crop residue, a Central Sector Scheme on Crop Residue Management has been implemented by Ministry of Agriculture and Family Welfare (MoAFW) since 2018-19. States have distributed more than 3.50 lakh machines to the individual farmers and established more than 43,415 Custom Hiring Centers (CHCs) in these States which includes 1.48 lakh Crop Residue Machines  (CRM)  and  1500  CHC  in  Punjab  for  in-situ  crop  residue  management.  So  far, Rs.4,173.84 crore has been released during the period 2018-19 till 2025-26 (as on 04.02.2026), of which, an amount of Rs. 2026.45 crore has been released to State of Punjab.

Government  of  Haryana  provides  incentive  of  Rs.7000/-  per  acre  to  farmers  under  Crop Diversification Programe 'Mera Pani Meri Virasat' with the aim of reducing the area of paddy in the State and promoting maize, cotton, Kharif Oilseed, Kharif Pulses, Kharif onion, Fodder crops, Horticulture/vegetable crops, even in case of fallow land. Government of Haryana also provides an incentives of Rs.1200 per acre to farmers for not engaging in stubble burning. Further, Rs.4000/per acre is provided to farmers for using Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) method.

Government of Punjab offers a financial incentive of Rs. 1500 per acre to farmers who adopt the Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) technique. An area of 2.93 lakh acres has been sown using DSR method. Government has offered incentives of SGST reimbursement on the cost of the boiler (based on paddy  straw)  installed  in  industries  such  as  Sugar  Mills,  Paper  Mills  and  boilers  of  steam generation capacity more than 25 Tons per Hour (TPH) under the PBIP Investment promotion policy of the State of Punjab. Further incentives under agriculture infra fund for industrial units utilising paddy straw are also offered.

22 paddy supply chain centres have been established to strengthen supply chain of paddy residue. Unnat  Kissan  App  2.0  has  been  launched  to  facilitate  mapping  of  CRM  machines,  real-time booking by farmers, and daily reporting of machine utilization by officers and single platform for machine rental.

10,500 field functionaries have been appointed to monitor and contain stubble burning incidents and Parali Protection Force of 1700 personnel has been deployed at Block level in Punjab for effective enforcement of measures to prevent and control stubble burning. 31 Flying Squads from CPCB have been deployed during the paddy harvesting season in identified hotspots of Punjab and  Haryana  to  closely  monitor  actions  and  coordinate  with  the  concerned  District  level authorities.

Govt.  of  Punjab  has  banned  the  PUSA  44  seed  variety  due  to  high  water  demand  and  late harvesting. ICAR has developed many varieties of paddy maturing 125 days producing same yield and consuming less water as replacement to PUSA 44. Further, ICAR has developed many new varieties of Paddy such as PUSA 2090, PUSA 1824, PR114, PR122, PR126, PR128, PR131 as a better option compared to PUSA 44 variety. On-farm demonstrations and awareness programmes have been conducted by IARI for popularization of short duration varieties with equal or better yield potential than PUSA44 for its replacement.

Environmental compensation has been imposed in 2386 incidents as per Air Quality Management in  National  Capital  Region  and  Adjoining  Areas  (Imposition,  Collection  and  Utilization  of Environmental Compensation for Stubble Burning) Rules, 2023.

Due to coordinated efforts, paddy stubble burning incidents have been reduced in Punjab by more than 90% with 5,114 in 2025 as against 71,304 in 2021, in Punjab. Further, Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi has improved at 201 in 2025 as against 225 in 2018.

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