Mann government becomes guardian of environmental protection, record reduction in stubble burning cases in Punjab

Chandigarh(The Uttam Hindu): Under the leadership of Chief Minister Mr. Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab government has taken special steps towards environmental protection. These steps have resulted in a record reduction in stubble burning cases. Approximately 90 lakh metric tons (LMT) of crops are yet to arrive in the grain markets, so stubble burning in the state is out of the question. The Mann government has implemented stubble management not just on paper but in the fields. A campaign was launched in every district. Thousands of CRM machines were given to farmers so that they could bury the stubble in the fields and incorporate it into the soil, rather than burning it.

Teams were formed in every village, monitoring was done at the block level, and officials were given the responsibility to ensure that no fires occurred. Statistics show that as of October 28, 2024, 2,137 cases of stubble burning were reported. This year, paddy has been cultivated on 31.72 lakh hectares in the state, of which approximately 60 percent has been harvested, meaning approximately 40 percent of the area remains to be harvested. So far, a total of 933 cases of stubble burning have been reported in the state, a 57 percent decrease compared to last year. Experts believe that government efforts, improved availability of subsidized balers and compressors, and awareness of alternative methods among farmers have made a difference. Satellite remote sensing is used to monitor stubble burning incidents.

This is in accordance with the national standard protocol for monitoring crop residue burning. According to a report by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water, approximately half of Punjab's farmers use residue management machines for stubble management. They burn some loose paddy straw to ensure proper operation of the machines and for pest control. The report found that 58 percent of the farmers surveyed managed stubble using machines like super seeders and rotavators. This was made possible by the efforts of the government. The impact of the government's aggressive strategy was felt not only in the fields but also in the air. In October 2025, blood pressure in major industrial and agricultural districts like Ludhiana, Patiala, and Amritsar improved by 25 to 40 percent compared to previous years. (Advertorial)