Punjab Newsline | Chandigarh
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Tuesday directed officials to launch a massive, multi-level information and awareness campaign to further reduce paddy straw-burning incidents across the state.
Chairing a meeting on the Paddy Straw Management Strategy, Mann said Punjab has already achieved an 86% reduction in stubble-burning incidents, with cases declining from 36,663 in 2023 to 10,909 in 2024 and 5,114 in 2025.
Chief Minister said around 30 lakh hectares of paddy have been sown in Punjab this year, expected to generate nearly 18.81 million tonnes of paddy straw. He called for stronger efforts to ensure that the declining trend continues.
Mann directed officials to take the awareness campaign to the village and block levels, involving NGOs, social workers, Panchayats, farmers and other stakeholders. He called for machinery demonstrations, street plays, meetings with Sarpanches, pledge-taking activities and other grassroots programs.
He also stressed the need for a comprehensive digital campaign through radio jingles, print and television media, mobile SMS, outdoor publicity and social media to educate farmers about the harmful effects of stubble burning and available alternatives.
CM further called for the recognition and felicitation of progressive farmers, best-performing Panchayats, PACS and other stakeholders who contribute to effective paddy straw management.
Emphasising coordination, Mann directed all departments and districts to work together for smooth implementation of the strategy. He also highlighted the importance of both ex-situ and in-situ paddy straw management, saying farmers should be provided with practical and sustainable alternatives to burning.
Cabinet Ministers Gurmeet Singh Khudian and Hardeep Singh Mundian, Chief Secretary KAP Sinha and other senior officials attended the meeting.
