The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) conducted field visits and a review meeting on 10 October 2026 in Amritsar and Tarn Taran to assess measures against paddy stubble burning. The commission evaluated the deployment of Crop Residue Management (CRM) machinery and the use of balers to move straw to industries with boilers. To strengthen monitoring, Flying Squads have been deployed in 18 districts of Punjab from 1 October to 30 November 2026. Local administrations are directed to maintain strict surveillance and coordinate with farmers and aggregators to prevent winter air pollution.
Key points
- Flying Squads deployed in 18 Punjab districts from 1 Oct to 30 Nov 2026.
- Amritsar has established a Control Room and Help Desk for CRM machinery access.
- Focus on both in-situ and ex-situ utilisation of paddy straw to reduce pollution.
- District-level helplines created in Amritsar for reporting stubble burning incidents.
- Emphasis on timely availability of CRM machines and farmer sensitisation.
When it applies
- CAQM field visits to hotspot villages
- CAQM review meeting in Amritsar and field visits
- deployment of Flying Squads
- deployment of Flying Squads
Who it affects
- Flying Squads