A farmer burns stubble (parali) after to remove paddy crop residues from a field on the outskirts of Amritsar. (Representative image)
Credit: PTI photo
Chandigarh: Punjab and Haryana have reported a significant drop in stubble burning cases this year, leading to clearer skies and better air quality in the Delhi-NCR region, according to data.
Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) data shows that Punjab recorded 5,114 farm fire cases in 2025, a 93 per cent decline compared to 2021, the state government said in a statement issued here on Friday.
Haryana reported 662 cases, a 91 per cent dip.
Satellite data from the Consortium for Research on Agroecosystem Monitoring and Modeling from Space (CREAMS) laboratory also indicated a sharp reduction in paddy straw burning, showing a 57 per cent drop -- from 42,962 cases in 2023 to 18,457 in 2024.
Several districts showed marked improvement.
Sangrur reported a 60 per cent drop, with 693 cases in 2025, while Ferozepur saw 59 per cent, and Muktsar 55 per cent reduction in stubble burning incidents, the statement said.
Tarn Taran with 685 farm fires and Bathinda with 368, also registered a significant decline in cases compared to previous years.
In Haryana, most cases were from Jind (47), Fatehabad (28) and Kaithal (27).
With fewer farm fires, Delhi-NCR's air quality improved significantly.
The number of days with an Air Quality Index (AQI) below 200 increased from 110 days in 2016 to 200 days in 2025, according to data.
According to a experts, the improvement is the result of government policies, awareness among farmers, use of new farming methods and private-sector initiatives, the statement said.
Waste-to-energy firms are helping farmers use crop residue to produce renewable power instead of burning it in the fields, it added.