The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has issued a 19-point action plan aimed at completely eliminating paddy stubble burning in Delhi-NCR and neighbouring states during the 2025 harvest season. This initiative recognizes the significant impact of crop residue burning on air pollution and specifically targets Punjab, Haryana, and the NCR districts of Uttar Pradesh, while also calling for coordinated efforts from Delhi and Rajasthan.
The action plan requires detailed mapping of each farm to identify suitable methods for managing paddy stubble, which may include crop diversification, in-situ treatment, ex-situ utilization, or fodder use. Nodal officers will be assigned to groups of no more than 50 farmers to enhance ground-level monitoring.
A thorough review and gap analysis of available Crop Residue Management (CRM) machinery will be conducted, with outdated machines being discarded and new ones procured by August 2025. The plan stresses the importance of ensuring timely availability of machinery, particularly through Custom Hiring Centres (CHCs), which will be mandated to provide services rent-free for small and marginal farmers.
The directive also focuses on developing district-level supply chain plans for ex-situ usage of paddy straw. This includes planning for straw baling, transportation, storage on government or panchayat lands, and utilization in boilers and brick kilns. A standardized procurement rate for paddy straw in Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, following Haryana’s model, has also been recommended.
To improve monitoring, the CAQM has proposed the establishment of dedicated “Parali Protection Forces” at the district and block levels. These teams will consist of police, agricultural, administrative, and local officials, and will conduct intensified patrols, especially during late evening hours when fires are often set to evade satellite detection. Citizens will be encouraged to report incidents via social media.
Following directives from the Supreme Court, each affected state is required to form a high-level committee led by the Chief Secretary to oversee implementation and provide monthly progress reports to the CAQM starting June 1, 2025.
The CAQM will submit updates to the Court and may seek further directions based on the compliance reports. The Commission will also establish an online platform for real-time data reporting on crop residue management activities.
