The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change announced on 17 October 2026 that a high-level team from the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) visited Firozpur and Faridkot districts. The team reviewed the use of Crop Residue Management (CRM) machinery and the monitoring of hotspot villages to prevent paddy stubble burning during the current harvesting season. District administrations were advised to improve coordination between farmers and aggregators to ensure machinery is available on time. The release does not say when these instructions take effect.
Key points
- Focus on timely availability and optimal use of Crop Residue Management (CRM) machinery
- Use of drones and low-cost sensors for monitoring and trend analysis
- Emphasis on both in-situ and ex-situ management of paddy straw
- Coordination required between farmers, aggregators, and industries
When it applies
- CAQM team visit to Firozpur and Faridkot
Who it affects
- district administrations