Punjab Newsline | Chandigarh
In a first for Punjab, the state government will deploy drones to monitor agricultural fields for stubble burning, with a special focus on the afternoon-to-night window when some farmers allegedly attempt to evade satellite detection. Surveillance will be intensified between 3 pm and 9 pm, a period considered critical for identifying crop residue burning incidents.
The move is part of the Bhagwant Mann-led government’s ambitious five-year roadmap aimed at achieving zero stubble burning by 2030. Rather than relying solely on punitive measures against farmers, the government is also focusing on converting paddy straw into an economic resource through a combination of in-situ and ex-situ management strategies.
According to official estimates, Punjab’s nearly 31 lakh hectares of paddy cultivation area is expected to generate around 18.81 million metric tons of paddy straw during the current season. To manage this volume, the state has prepared a multi-pronged strategy involving crop diversification, modern farm machinery, biomass-based industries, biogas and compressed biogas (CBG) plants.
Under the in-situ management plan, around 10.15 million metric tonnes of stubble will be incorporated back into fields using 1,58,898 subsidised agricultural machines. Another 7.08 million metric tons will be utilised through biomass and biogas plants under the ex-situ model, while approximately 0.86 million metric tons will be used as cattle fodder.
A major component of the government’s long-term strategy is crop diversification. The state aims to reduce paddy cultivation by nearly seven lakh hectares over the coming years, thereby reducing the overall generation of paddy straw at the source.
The state has already reported significant progress in curbing stubble-burning incidents. The number of recorded cases declined from 76,929 in 2020 to 10,909 in 2024, and further dropped to 5,114 in 2025, marking a nearly 54 per cent reduction compared to the previous year.
However, the issue remains concentrated in a few districts. Official data shows that Sangrur, Ferozepur, Bathinda, Moga, Muktsar, Mansa, Tarn Taran and Faridkot accounted for nearly 67 per cent of all cases, with 3,454 incidents reported in these districts alone.
To strengthen monitoring and enforcement in sensitive areas, the government has deployed more than 12,000 officials. Alongside technological surveillance, administrative and legal action has also been intensified.
Last year, authorities registered 1,963 FIRs against farmers for violating stubble-burning regulations, while 2,176 farmers received red entries in their land records. Environmental compensation charges have also been increased, making violations more costly.
Officials said the distinguishing feature of Punjab’s new roadmap is its emphasis on building a complete utilisation chain for paddy straw instead of treating it merely as agricultural waste. The success of the strategy, they added, will depend on how effectively it is implemented at the village level across the state.
