Punjab Newsline, Chandigarh-
Haryana is on track to become a zero stubble-burning state within the next two years, having achieved remarkable progress in curbing crop residue burning. The state has reported a 77 percent reduction in fire incidents this season, with only 171 cases recorded as of November 6, 2025, compared to 888 during the same period last year. This information was shared by Haryana Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi after attending a high-level review meeting chaired by Sh. Rajesh Verma, Chairperson of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM).
CAQM Chairperson Rajesh Verma appreciated the collective efforts of Haryana Government officials and farmers in reducing incidents of stubble burning. He especially commended the districts of Karnal and Kurukshetra for their significant progress in curbing paddy residue burning. Emphasizing that the next ten days are extremely crucial, he directed the district administrations to maintain strict vigilance to ensure that no further cases of stubble burning occur in the state.
Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi informed that Haryana’s three-pronged strategy—covering in-situ management, ex-situ utilization, and fodder use—is delivering strong results across the state’s 39.31 lakh acres of paddy area. Of this, 44.40 lakh tonnes of residue are being managed through in-situ methods, 19.10 lakh tonnes through ex-situ utilization, and 22 lakh tonnes are being used as fodder. A total of 19,670 acres have been diversified from paddy cultivation, while over 1.74 lakh farmers have adopted Direct Seeding of Rice (DSR), significantly reducing both water use and stubble generation.
The government has enhanced financial incentives to promote sustainable farming practices, offering ₹1,200 per acre for in-situ and ex-situ management ₹8,000 per acre for crop diversification, and ₹4,500 per acre for DSR. A total of ₹471 crore has been allocated for these initiatives. Free bio-decomposer powder is being distributed, with CCS HAU, Hisar, implementing the technology on 2 lakh acres. Under the Crop Residue Management (CRM) scheme for 2025–26, 7,781 machines worth ₹94 crore have been sanctioned, with total funding of ₹250.75 crore shared between the Central and State Governments.
Highlighting Haryana’s progress in industrial use of paddy straw, Mr. Rastogi said that the state now has 31 pelletization and briquetting plants with a combined capacity of 8.17 lakh tonnes per annum, 11 biomass power plants generating 111.9 MW, one 2G ethanol plant, two CBG plants, and five thermal power plants utilizing 16.64 lakh tonnes of paddy straw. Brick kilns in non-NCR districts have also been directed to progressively use paddy straw-based pellets—20 percent by 2025, increasing to 50 percent by 2028.
He added that Haryana has deployed 10,028 nodal officers and uses HARSAC’s satellite monitoring system for real-time detection of fire incidents. FIRs and environmental compensation are being imposed in all verified cases. As of November 6, compensation amounting to ₹4.60 lakh has been levied in 87 cases, with ₹3.35 lakh already recovered. Red entries have been made in 87 farm records.To curb vehicular emissions, the state has issued 3,25,989 PUC challans between January and October 2025 and penalized 285 visibly polluting vehicles in ncr districts. A total of 188 congestion points were identified, of which 101 have been decongested to reduce idle emissions. On the waste management front, 169 waste-burning incidents identified this year have been completely resolved through enforcement and awareness measures. Gurugram and Faridabad now have 86 CCTV cameras installed at dumpsites to ensure rapid response to potential fire incidents.