📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Satdeep Gill
Agriculture
Stubble Burning Triples in Punjab, Urban Pollution Levels Surge
✍️ Amar Ujala · Patiala
🗓 13 Nov 2026, 06:16 PM
👁 10
Stubble burning in Punjab has surged to three times its previous level, causing a noticeable rise in air pollution across major cities, officials said.
Punjab's agricultural fields are witnessing a sharp increase in stubble burning, with recent estimates indicating that the practice has tripled compared to the same period last year. The surge is attributed to delayed sowing of the next crop and farmers' reliance on quick residue clearance methods.
Air quality monitoring agencies have reported a corresponding rise in particulate matter concentrations across urban centres such as Amritsar, Ludhiana and Patiala. The heightened pollution levels have pushed several cities into the 'moderate' to 'poor' categories on the Air Quality Index, prompting health advisories for vulnerable groups.
State officials are urging farmers to adopt alternative residue management techniques, including machine-assisted removal and the use of certified bio-decomposers. The Punjab government has also announced plans to expand subsidies for equipment that can reduce the need for open-field burning.
Environmental NGOs have called for stricter enforcement of existing anti-burning regulations, warning that continued escalation could exacerbate respiratory health issues and undermine the state's clean‑air initiatives.
The situation remains under close observation, with authorities monitoring both agricultural practices and air quality data to inform further policy measures.
Air quality monitoring agencies have reported a corresponding rise in particulate matter concentrations across urban centres such as Amritsar, Ludhiana and Patiala. The heightened pollution levels have pushed several cities into the 'moderate' to 'poor' categories on the Air Quality Index, prompting health advisories for vulnerable groups.
State officials are urging farmers to adopt alternative residue management techniques, including machine-assisted removal and the use of certified bio-decomposers. The Punjab government has also announced plans to expand subsidies for equipment that can reduce the need for open-field burning.
Environmental NGOs have called for stricter enforcement of existing anti-burning regulations, warning that continued escalation could exacerbate respiratory health issues and undermine the state's clean‑air initiatives.
The situation remains under close observation, with authorities monitoring both agricultural practices and air quality data to inform further policy measures.