Punjab is finding itself in the clutches of an escalating stubble-burning crisis, invoking the Supreme Court directives, government crackdowns, and fervent calls for sustainable solutions. The state witnessed a momentary respite on Thursday as stubble burning incidents dipped below 1000 — a result of rigorous actions by the law enforcement agencies following the Supreme Court's stringent mandates.

However, the battle is far from over, with air quality concerns lingering and the agricultural community caught in the crossfire of punitive measures and the urgent need for alternative practices.

It was on October 28 when Punjab witnessed 127 incidents of farm fires — marking the last instance of cases falling below the 1000 mark till date. The trend took a sharp turn from October 29 onward, as the state experienced a notable spike in reported cases, reaching a peak on November 5 with more than 3000 cases. Eleven days later, the state on Thursday reported 639 incidents.

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court had issued directives that left no room for ambiguity – an immediate cessation of crop residue burning in Punjab. The urgency of the matter was underscored by the Court, making the local Station House Officer (SHO) responsible, under the supervision of the Chief Secretary, for halting crop residue burning. The move comes in the wake of Punjab and Haryana being pinpointed as major contributors to the alarming air pollution levels in Delhi-NCR during October and November.

Thursday, however, brought a glimmer of hope as stubble burning incidents in Punjab plummeted to 639 — with the authorities concerned attributing the same to a decisive crackdown initiated by the Punjab Police chief, orchestrating a synchronized effort with the Civil Administration to enforce the Supreme Court’s directives.

Punjab Police, in collaboration with the Civil Administration, initiated a no-nonsense approach to curb stubble burning, involving registration of 251 FIRs against farmers for burning paddy straw, with penalties amounting to a substantial Rs 88.23 lakh. The use of Section 188 (disobedience to order promulgated by a public servant) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) signaled the severity of the crackdown.

The operation extended beyond punitive measures, with a total of 392 hotspots of stubble burning identified. To facilitate compliance, 1,309 meetings were held by SHOs with village sarpanches to ensure awareness and adherence to the Supreme Court directions. Additionally, the Commissioners of Police (CPs) and district police chiefs (SSPs) engaged in 269 meetings with farmer leaders to foster cooperation and understanding.

Satellite remote sensing emerged as a critical tool in monitoring and quantifying active fire incidents resulting from paddy residue burning. On November 9 alone, satellites detected 639 incidents, contributing to a staggering season total of 23,620. This stark reality is further emphasized when comparing historical data, revealing 5,079 and 1,778 farm fires recorded on the same day in 2021 and 2022, respectively.

Sangrur district, an unfortunate hotspot, recorded the highest number of stubble burning incidents at 135, followed closely by Mansa with 96 and Ferozepur with 83. The gravity of the situation is undeniable, with the State grappling with the environmental and health repercussions of this rampant practice.

While the decline in stubble burning incidents provides a momentary reprieve, the specter of poor air quality looms large. Parts of Punjab reported ‘very poor’ and ‘poor’ air quality indices, painting a grim picture. Bathinda reported an AQI of 372 — indicative of ‘very poor’ air quality; followed by Mandi Gobindgarh at 354, Patiala 300, Khanna 293, Jalandhar 258, Amritsar 225 and Rupnagar 200.

Even Chandigarh, the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana, did not escape the onslaught, registering an AQI of 209. An AQI between zero and 50 is considered 'good', 51 and 100 'satisfactory', 101 and 200 'moderate', 201 and 300 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor', and 401 and 500 'severe'.

Punjab Advocate-General Gurminder Singh, shedding light on the multifaceted measures undertaken to address the stubble burning crisis, said that the state of Punjab, in its affidavit in the Apex Court, advocated for the distribution of 30,000 to 40,000 machines to farmers, with a funding formula allocating 25 percent each from Delhi and the Central Government and 50 percent from the Punjab Government.

AG emphasized that the matter has been lingering in the Supreme Court for an extended period, acknowledging the heightened pollution levels in Delhi during November and December. To tackle the root causes, he proposed encouraging farmers to diversify crops and providing Minimum Support Price (MSP) for new crops. The purchase and utilization of stubble were suggested as additional measures to address the issue comprehensively.

In the aftermath of the Supreme Court's reprimand, strict orders were issued to the police and district administration in all districts to halt stubble burning, underscoring the government's commitment to the cause, he said.

Acknowledging the complexities of the problem, he underscored the ongoing efforts by the Punjab government. The incentivization of farmers refraining from burning stubble remains a pivotal element of the overarching strategy.

AAP’s Punjab unit chief spokesperson Malvinder Singh Kang highlighted the party's relentless efforts to reduce stubble-burning incidents. Recognizing the challenges faced by farmers in the absence of viable alternatives, Kang stressed the success of AAP's initiatives, resulting in a 30 per cent reduction last year and an additional 40 per cent decline this year.

AAP's proposal for financial assistance to farmers gained resonance, suggesting a monetary fund offering Rs 2000-3000 per acre to incentivize the creation of manure from stubble. Kang pointed out the alignment of their proposal with the Supreme Court, now contemplating the creation of a special fund for crop diversification.

Punjab needs policy to reuse stubble: AAP MP Vikram Sahney

In the midst of this crisis, AAP’s Rajya Sabha MP Vikram Sahney also called for a proactive policy to address stubble burning. Advocating for the reuse of stubble in sectors like paper, pulp, cement bricks, and biomass, Sahney emphasized the need to make the use of balers mandatory alongside combine harvesters.

Sahney pointed out that combine harvesters leave behind one to two feet of straw stalk on paddy-growing soil, and making the use of balers mandatory could alone solve the problem of stubble burning. He envisioned a scenario where Punjab farmers could become social entrepreneurs, contributing to sectors like paper and pulp, cement bricks manufacturing, and bio-gas and bio-ethanol production.

The MP urged the Centre to consider making hay balers rental-free and incentivizing the sale of straw by farmers. A cohesive approach, both by the state and the Centre, was deemed essential to address the root causes of stubble burning and provide viable alternatives to farmers stuck in the paddy-wheat cycle.