Punjab CM Mann calls for massive awareness drive to curb stubble burning

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday called for a multi-level information and awareness campaign to curb the burning of paddy straw in the State.

He also claimed that due to the State Government’s sustained efforts, there was 86 per cent decline in such incidents from 2023 to 2025.

Directing officers to take the campaign deep into villages and blocks, CM Mann stressed that active participation of NGOs, social workers, panchayats and farmers, backed by large-scale social media outreach and stronger ex-situ and in-situ paddy straw management, is essential to consolidate these gains and protect Punjab’s environment.

Chairing a meeting on the paddy straw management strategy, Mann stated that around 30 lakh hectares of paddy has been sown in Punjab this year, which is expected to generate 18.81 million tonnes of paddy straw.

“Due to the strenuous efforts of the Punjab government, Punjab has witnessed 86 per cent reduction in stubble fire incidents from 2023 to 2025, he said.

The incidents have come down from 36,663 in 2023 to 10,909 in 2024 and further to 5,114 in 2025. We have to take this progress further and ensure that stubble burning incidents are reduced even more this year, he said.

Calling for an intensified grassroots campaign, Mann said, “A massive information and awareness campaign must be launched at the village and block levels to make farmers aware about the hazards of paddy straw burning. Every stakeholder must work together to motivate farmers to adopt sustainable alternatives to stubble burning.”

He said NGOs and social workers should be actively involved in the campaign to strengthen efforts to motivate farmers.

“NGOs and social workers should be roped into motivating farmers. Machinery demonstrations, nukkad nataks, meetings with sarpanches, pledge-taking activities and other awareness programmes must be organised extensively so that the message reaches farmers at the grassroots level,” he said.

Mann also called for a comprehensive digital and multimedia strategy to complement field-level activities.

“A detailed digital plan should be implemented covering radio jingles, print media, television, mobile SMS and outdoor media. The social media awareness campaign should also be conducted on a big scale to create wider awareness about the harmful effects of paddy straw burning and the available management options,” he said.

He further stressed the need for close coordination among all stakeholders and districts for effective implementation of the strategy.