From Crisis to Breakthrough – Punjab’s Clean Air Transformation – Punjab Pollution Control Board

From Crisis to Breakthrough – Punjab’s Clean Air Transformation

Severe seasonal air pollution from large-scale paddy stubble burning harms public health across Punjab and northern India.
Limited farmer access to affordable and timely alternatives for crop residue management within a narrow harvesting window.
Under-utilisation of paddy straw despite its potential as a renewable industrial and energy resource.
Fragmented enforcement and monitoring mechanisms across departments and districts.
Absence of a circular economy framework linking agriculture, industry, and clean energy.

92.8% reduction in active stubble-burning incidents since 2021.
Increase in in-situ straw management from 6.45 million tonnes in 2020 to 11.4 million tonnes in 2025.
Over 700% rise in ex-situ industrial utilisation of paddy straw between 2021 and 2025, reaching 7.06 million tonnes.
Industrial boiler consumption of paddy straw increased from 8.8 lakh tonnes in 2022 to 41 lakh tonnes in 2025.
Measurable improvement in regional air quality during peak harvest months.

For more information, please contact:
Reena Gupta at chairman.ptl.ppcb@punjab.gov.in

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