The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) held review meetings with the governments of Punjab and Haryana on 22 October 2026 to address air pollution. The Commission focused on preventing paddy stubble burning through the use of Crop Residue Management (CRM) machinery and monitoring via drones and satellite alerts. In Haryana, the review also covered vehicular pollution, industrial emissions, and dust from construction and roads. The release does not say when these directives take effect, but emphasizes urgent action during the winter period.
Key points
- Focus on preventing paddy stubble burning and utilizing CRM machinery
- Monitoring of burning incidents using drones, low-cost sensors, and satellite alerts
- Mandatory use of paddy straw-based biomass pellets in brick kilns
- Enforcement of PUCCs via Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) systems in Haryana
- Warning to District Administrations that laxity leading to more stubble burning will be viewed seriously
When it applies
- Review meetings with Punjab and Haryana governments
Who it affects
- State Departments, District Administrations and enforcement agencies
Refers to
- CAQM Direction No. 99 dated 15.05.2026
- CAQM Direction No. 92