Full Breakdown
Spike in Farm Fires Highlights Punjab’s Crop-Residue Challenge
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
Between September 15 and October 24 2025, Punjab recorded 574 farm-fire incidents, according to the Punjab Agriculture Department. The north-western districts of Tarn Taran and Amritsar accounted for most cases, with Tarn Taran reporting 696 incidents out of the state’s total of 5,114 for the full paddy-harvesting season. The surge occurs despite a decline from the 2024 peak of 1,678 incidents for the same period.
Background & Context
Punjab’s agrarian calendar is tightly packed. Farmers harvest short-duration paddy in September, then grow a third crop—usually green peas or potatoes—before sowing wheat in November. The 60-day pea crop leaves a narrow window to clear residue, prompting many growers to burn stubble rather than lose a day arranging machinery. Experts at the Punjab Remote Sensing Centre and Punjab Agricultural University link the early spike in fires to this accelerated cropping cycle in the Majha region.
Data & Statistics
- 574 incidents (Sept 15–Oct 24 2025) – Punjab Agriculture Department.
- District breakdown (same period): Tarn Taran 696, Amritsar 414, others < 100.
- CAQM field data (Oct 23 2025) reported 542 incidents statewide.
- Hindustan Times cited 454 incidents as of Oct 21 2025.
- FIRs under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita: 91 registered statewide by Oct 23 2025; total rose to 130 after additional FIRs on Oct 21 2025.
- The state reports 1.25 lakh operational crop-residue-management machines, with Amritsar and Tarn Taran each having “sufficient numbers.”
Official Statements & Responses
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), chaired by Rajesh Verma, conducted a review in early October 2025, directing district officials to intensify surveillance, ensure timely delivery of machinery, and maximise the use of paddy straw in thermal power plants, brick kilns and other industries. Verma emphasized that the government’s “helpdesk” in Amritsar identifies farmers needing equipment and facilitates its provision.
Criticism & Opposition
Delhi’s Manjinder Singh Sirsa (BJP) accused the AAP-led Punjab government of allowing farm fires to “ramp up” and claimed that smoke from Punjab was already reaching Delhi. AAP officials rebuked the remarks, arguing that the BJP’s focus on punitive measures ignored the state’s investments in machinery and awareness campaigns.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Despite Punjab's significant reduction in stubble burning and the government's sustained investment in machinery, BJP leaders continue to target our farmers.” — Baltej Pannu
- “Paddy harvesting has not even gathered momentum, yet BJP leaders have started creating a drama about smoke reaching Delhi from Punjab.” — Baltej Pannu
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the exact number of incidents for the September 15–October 24 window: Indianexpress cites 574, CAQM notes 542, while Hindustan Times records 454 as of October 21. District-level tallies also vary (e.g., Tarn Taran reported 696 by Indianexpress versus 257 by CAQM). No source provides a consolidated, independently verified count, leaving the precise scale ambiguous.
What’s Next
Following the October 22 2025 meeting in Chandigarh, CAQM instructed Punjab to:
- Deploy sector-wise nodal officers to monitor straw utilisation in power plants, brick kilns and biomass projects.
- Expand the use of drones and low-cost sensors for real-time fire detection.
- Strengthen coordination among Custom Hiring Centres, machinery providers and farmer groups to reduce delays in equipment access.
The commission signalled that failure to implement these measures could trigger “strict action and accountability,” indicating continued regulatory focus through the remainder of the harvesting season.
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*This article synthesises information from official data, agency statements and political commentary to present a factual overview of Punjab’s farm-fire situation as of late 2025.*