Ludhiana / Chandigarh, September 19, 2026 – Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday said the state government has no intention of registering FIRs against farmers for stubble burning, while urging them to manage crop residue properly as the paddy harvesting season approaches.
Speaking at the Kisan Mela held at Punjab Agricultural University in Ludhiana, Mann said farmers are often blamed for air pollution caused by stubble burning, from Delhi to Lahore. He noted that Punjab contributes a large quantity of paddy — around 180 lakh metric tonnes — to the central pool, but the resulting stubble problem does not receive adequate attention.
We have no such intention to register FIRs against farmers, so please manage your stubble accordingly so that we do not reach such a situation,” the Chief Minister said. He added that registering cases (parcha) or relying solely on satellite surveillance would not solve the issue.
Mann suggested that cash incentives for farmers, possibly around ₹1,500 per acre, could be a more effective solution and said he had conveyed this view to the Centre.
Stubble burning incidents in Punjab have declined significantly in recent years. The state recorded 5,114 cases in 2025, a 54% drop from 10,909 in 2024, and a much larger reduction from 2023 levels. The government has prepared a five-year roadmap aiming for zero stubble burning by 2030, focusing on crop diversification, better machinery, biomass utilisation, and improved storage infrastructure.
Monitoring for the current season has already begun, with a small number of cases reported in mid-September. The state plans to deploy drones for surveillance in high-risk districts this year and continues awareness campaigns at the village level.
Mann’s remarks come as the paddy harvest gathers momentum and concerns over seasonal air quality in northern India resurface. The Chief Minister emphasised the need for practical support to farmers rather than punitive measures alone.