Stubble burning incidents down 68 percent after doubling of fines, says environment ministry

Incidents of stubble burning fell by 68 percent in November after the Centre doubled the fines for setting fire to crop residue, data provided by the ministry of environment, forest and climate change shows.

Stubble burning is the practice of setting harvest residue such as rice stalks on fire by farmers to pave way for fresh sowing. In the north, it typically happens from mid or late October to November or early December after paddy is harvested and is a major cause of air pollution, with the smoke blending with fog as the temperature begins to dip.

“The cumulative paddy residue burning reports show a 68 percent decline for the period from November 6 to November 27 in 2024 as compared to (the same period in) 2023,” the ministry told Parliament on December 2.

On November 7, the Centre issued new rules doubling fines for stubble burning. Farmers with a holding of less than two acres are fined Rs 5,000 for every incidence of stubble burning, those with two acres or more but less than five have to pay Rs 10,000. Farmers with more than five acres have to pay an environmental compensation of Rs 30,000 for one incidence.