Pollution watchdog urges Punjab to bridge gap between stubble burning targets and ground reality

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has called for concrete action to match stated pollution control targets in Punjab, following ground-level assessments in several villages across the state. During recent field visits, the team identified critical gaps between policy announcements and on-ground implementation of stubble management initiatives.

Farmers engaged by the CAQM delegation flagged substantial difficulties in accessing and effectively using crop residue management machinery designed to prevent stubble burning. The machinery-dependent approach, touted as a solution to the stubble burning menace that affects air quality across North India each October-November, faces logistical and operational challenges that undermine adoption rates.

The CAQM's observations underscore a persistent problem: while Punjab has announced ambitious targets to eliminate stubble burning, the infrastructure and support systems required to help farmers comply remain inadequate. Officials emphasised that bridging this implementation gap is essential to achieve meaningful reductions in agricultural burning.

Stubble burning in Punjab and neighbouring states significantly contributes to seasonal air pollution in Delhi and northern India. The CAQM's field findings suggest that addressing farmer challenges in accessing alternative residue management solutions will be critical to making anti-burning measures effective rather than merely aspirational.