Madhya Pradesh has recently overtaken Punjab in the number of stubble burning incidents this season, recording more than 10,000 cases across India and raising new concerns over the intensifying air pollution in North India. Traditionally, Punjab and Haryana have been the primary regions affected by crop residue burning; however, recent trends show a notable increase in farm fires across Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh.
This shift highlights the challenge of tackling stubble burning—a significant contributor to the seasonal surge in pollution across northern India. Madhya Pradesh, previously not among the primary states involved in farm fire cases, has recorded a staggering number of incidents this season. On Monday alone, the state reported 506 incidents, a significant rise from its previous peak of 296 cases on November 2. This recent figure constituted over half of the nationwide stubble burning incidents reported that day, placing Madhya Pradesh at the forefront of the crisis. In comparison, Punjab, which had reported 587 cases on November 1, showed a positive decline, reducing its tally to 262 cases by November 4. This decrease reflects Punjab’s ongoing efforts to control the burning of crop residues.
Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan have also shown a worrying spike. In Uttar Pradesh, stubble burning incidents rose from 16 to 84 cases in a single day. Rajasthan saw a similar surge, with cases jumping from 36 to 98, marking its highest daily tally since October 16. While states like Haryana have shown improvements—with cases declining from 42 on October 31 to 13 on November 4—the escalating numbers in other states offset these positive developments.
As a whole, India’s total stubble burning incidents have exceeded 10,000 cases, with Punjab accounting for the largest share at 4,394, followed by Madhya Pradesh with 2,875 cases out of the national total of 10,693 incidents. This upward trend in non-traditional states presents a growing challenge for policymakers, who are already under pressure to address the environmental impacts of stubble burning and advocate for sustainable farming practices.
Experts warn that the rising cases of stubble burning across multiple states underscore the need for immediate action to mitigate air pollution during the harvest season. Efforts to introduce alternatives, such as crop residue management and incentives for sustainable farming, have taken effect in some regions but are not yet uniformly effective. With air quality reaching hazardous levels in many parts of North India, the urgency to support and promote alternative practices is higher than ever. The complex challenge calls for integrated policy interventions to address the environmental and health impacts posed by this seasonal practice.
