Recent satellite data reveals that although Punjab has reported a major drop (around 70%) in stubble burning incidents in 2024, the total
farmland area burned remains virtually the same as last year, indicating gaps in monitoring and reporting.
Stubble Burning: A Continuing Ecological Challenge
Every year after paddy harvesting, large swathes of Punjab and Haryana witness widespread burning of crop residue to quickly clear fields for wheat sowing.
Despite repeated policy interventions, this practice persists as a major contributor to toxic winter air pollution across northern India, including Delhi-NCR.
Why Farmers Burn Residue
- Mechanised harvesting by combine harvesters leaves behind stubborn stubble.
- Manual removal is costly and time-intensive.
- The sowing window between paddy harvest and wheat planting is barely 20–25 days.
- Burning becomes the cheapest and fastest method for land clearing.
However, the smoke releases large quantities of PM2.5/PM10, methane, and nitrogen oxides, aggravating winter smog and long-term atmospheric pollution.
Why the Data Does Not Match
Satellite-based thermal sensors (MODIS, VIIRS) detect active fire heat signatures, but:
They pass over Punjab only a few times a day.
Evening or short-duration burns often go undetected.
Cloud cover or haze interferes with readings.
Farmers may burn in smaller or concealed patches to avoid detection.
Research by IISER Mohali and others shows consistent underreporting of fires, especially in fragmented landholdings.
New Monitoring Technologies
Experts point out that optical satellites such as Sentinel-2 can detect post-burn “scars” and discoloration, providing a truer estimate of burnt area than thermal sensors alone.
Future tracking must combine:
- Thermal sensors (active fire)
- Optical sensors (burn scars)
- Ground verification
Experts argue that machinery + penalties are not enough. Long-term solutions
require:
- Crop diversification
- Short-duration paddy varieties
- Assured procurement of alternative byproducts
- Economic incentives over punitive actions
Rethinking the Metric of Success
A fall in the number of incidents does not necessarily mean improvement.
Future assessment must measure:
- Burnt area
- Intensity and emissions
- Duration & frequency of fires
Sustainable change will hinge on technology + policy + economic viability for farmers.