Punjab submits Rs 26.31-crore action plan to curb stubble burning ahead of kharif season

Chandigarh: Punjab has submitted a Rs 26.31-crore action plan to the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to prevent and reduce stubble burning during the 2026 Kharif season.

The plan focuses on farmer awareness, crop-residue management, community participation and communication campaigns across all 23 districts as the state prepares for the upcoming paddy harvesting season.

A major part of the proposed plan will go towards awareness and communication activities. The Punjab Agricultural University has been allocated Rs 3.34 crore for training and NSS-related activities, while Rs 6 crore is proposed for publicity through print, television, radio and outdoor media.

Another Rs 4.98 crore has been earmarked for Information, Education and Communication activities. The plan also includes Rs 50 lakh for an SMS campaign, Rs 30 lakh each for social media and content creation, Rs 60 lakh for demonstrations and Rs 6 crore for bio-decomposer-related activities.

The state has also proposed Rs 50 lakh for recognising panchayats, FPOs and PACS that contribute to efforts against stubble burning. Training and stakeholder conferences will receive Rs 45 lakh, while Rs 2 crore is proposed for activities through the Project Management Unit and Rs 1.33 crore for new initiatives.

The awareness campaign will cover 151 blocks across all 23 districts of Punjab.

Activities will include field demonstrations, village and block-level awareness camps, publicity campaigns, school competitions, information material, street plays and meetings with village sarpanches.

The plan also proposes the identification of 10 progressive farmers in each block and involvement of ASHA workers in village-level outreach. Social media and digital communication will also form part of the campaign.

The state plans to promote both in-situ and ex-situ crop-residue management and create greater awareness about Crop Residue Management machinery and Custom Hiring Centres.

The campaign will also highlight the benefits of managing crop residue, including improved soil health, timely wheat sowing and better use of available farm machinery.

Panchayats, Farmer Producer Organisations, Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies, educational institutions and local communities are expected to play a role in encouraging farmers to adopt alternatives to burning.

The plan comes as Punjab continues efforts to bring down paddy stubble-burning incidents.

According to CAQM data cited in the report, reported cases in Punjab declined from 83,002 in 2020 to 10,909 in 2024. However, the state continues to face localised incidents linked to operational challenges, behavioural patterns and delays in managing paddy straw.

CAQM has directed Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to implement time-bound action plans for preventing and eliminating stubble burning during 2026. Its preparedness review has also stressed stronger awareness activities, timely availability of crop-residue management machinery and coordinated action at the district level.

The Rs 26.31-crore plan is part of Punjab’s preparations for the 2026 Kharif season, with the state placing greater emphasis on farmer participation, practical residue-management solutions and community-led action.