A new conversation is needed on stubble burning

In a climate of ecological and economic uncertainty for farmers, punitive measures alone will not lead to tangible behavioural change

Studies by ISRO, Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) and iFOREST indicate that peak stubble burning has shifted from early afternoon to late afternoon and evening.

3 min readNov 6, 2026 06:10 AM IST First published on: Nov 6, 2026 at 06:10 AM IST

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has cracked down on stubble burning in Punjab, a day after Delhi’s Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa blamed farm fires in the state for the recent spike in the Capital’s air pollution. After issuing show-cause notices to deputy commissioners and senior police officers in nine districts, the Commission has warned officials in 12 districts of personal accountability for enforcement lapses. Crop-residue burning is illegal, with fines ranging from Rs 5,000 to Rs 30,000. Though farm-fire incidents have declined over the past three years, the reduction, particularly in Punjab, has not evidently been sufficient to translate into an appreciable improvement in air quality. The CAQM’s decision is timely, especially as it coincides with the peak stubble-burning season. However, it is time for authorities responsible for clean air in the NCR and adjoining areas to address a more fundamental question: Why do a large number of farmers continue to set paddy straw on fire despite several court orders, years of enforcement and a cohort of policies aimed at enabling a transition to cleaner alternatives?

Studies by ISRO, Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) and iFOREST indicate that peak stubble burning has shifted from early afternoon to late afternoon and evening. Since satellites pass over farms at fixed times, fires lit later may go undetected. The CAQM’s new portal, linking satellite evidence with field-level action, could bridge this gap. Its success will depend on agriculture officers verifying alerts and reporting violations.

But lasting progress will depend on making paddy straw collection and utilisation viable. By all accounts, procurement of biomass for industrial uses has not expanded enough to offer farmers reliable markets. In-situ management remains costly for small cultivators. As a CEEW study noted last month, “Farmers are increasingly removing straw from their fields, but returns for most of them remain inadequate.” This year, unusual weather, including October rainfall, delayed harvesting and compressed the window for wheat sowing. In a climate of ecological and economic uncertainty for farmers, punitive measures alone will not lead to tangible behavioural change. Governments must improve access to machinery, build local collection networks and secure dependable buyers for straw. Most importantly, the free supply of electricity for irrigation must end. Having to pay for water will force Punjab farmers to reduce paddy acreage, which should address the problem of farm emissions.