New Delhi, February 16 – Aiming to curb air pollution during the harvest season, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) issued Statutory Directions to Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh on Monday to eliminate the burning of wheat stubble during the upcoming harvest season.
In addition to the suggestion of establishing district-level “Parali Protection Force” and night patrols, the Commission directed these states to implement their respective action plans to reduce the burning of wheat straw, with specific measures to ensure viable alternatives.
The CAQM stated, “The Governments of the NCT of Delhi and the Rajasthan Government have also been advised to make all possible efforts to eliminate incidents of burning wheat stubble during the ensuing harvest season. The states shall submit monthly progress reports to the Commission for continuous monitoring and necessary action.”
According to the standard protocol developed by ISRO/IARI, the CAQM stated that the number of fire events recorded during the wheat harvest season (April 1 to May 31, 2025) in Punjab, Haryana, and the NCR districts of Uttar Pradesh was 10,207, 1,832, and 259, respectively.
“Satellite-based monitoring during the wheat harvesting season (April–May 2025), which recorded such fire incidents across the region, highlighted the need for targeted interventions during the wheat season, in addition to the existing measures during the paddy season,” the Committee said.
Other instructions issued to the three states include mapping each farm in all the villages for the proposed method of managing wheat stubble (crop diversification/in-situ management/ ex-situ management/fodder).
The CAQM asked the states to designate specific nodal officers to groups of farmers, covering all farmers in the district, reminding them that a maximum of 100 farmers could be assigned to each nodal officer for effective monitoring.
It also directed the governments to ensure the optimum utilization and timely availability of crop residue management (CRM) machines to farmers, mainly during the peak harvesting season, through a mobile app.
The air quality panel also asked the states to provide adequate and appropriate storage facilities for wheat straw, ensuring the minimization of losses due to fire.
“Establish a robust and continuous supply chain of wheat straw in various forms for ex-situ applications, including its use as fodder. A District Level Supply Chain Management Plan to be formulated for each District, considering demand and supply throughout the year,” the CAQM said.