Significant Reduction in stubble burning incidents, a major success for the Punjab government

Mann Government Initiatives: The efforts made by Punjab government against stubble burning and pollution has now become an example for the entire country. Since the formation of the Aam Aadmi Party government in 2022, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has prioritized this issue and launched a campaign, considering it not just an environmental problem but a question of Punjab's future. The government made it clear from the beginning that Punjab's air will no longer be choked with smoke. A total of 4,327 cases of stubble burning were reported between September 15 and October 21 in 2021. However, in 2025, this number dropped to only 415. This is no small change, but a record reduction of nearly 90%. This shows how seriously the Mann government took this issue and how the work was done on the ground.

Mann govt's stubble management

The Mann government took stubble management from being limited to paperwork to the fields. A campaign was launched in every district. Thousands of CRM machines were given to farmers to bury the stubble in the fields and incorporate it into the soil, rather than burning it. Teams were formed in every village, monitoring was done at the block level, and officials were given the responsibility to ensure that no fires occurred.

The impact of this strictness and strategy was most visible in districts like Sangrur, Bathinda, and Ludhiana, which were considered the biggest problems of stubble burning every year. While previously thousands of cases were reported, the number in these districts has now dropped to less than hundreds. In many places, stubble burning incidents have reached near zero.

The impact of the government's aggressive strategy was felt not only in the fields but also in the air. In October 2025, the AQI in major industrial and agricultural districts like Ludhiana, Patiala, and Amritsar improved by 25 to 40 percent compared to previous years. This also had a direct impact on the air quality of Delhi-NCR. The smoke from Punjab's fields is no longer as thick as before, and Punjab is now being identified not with pollution but with solutions.

Agriculture and environment can coexist

Most importantly, in this campaign, farmers were treated as partners, not enemies. The government assured them that they would not be left alone in stubble management. Farmers also came forward and used machinery extensively. In many villages, farmers are working together to operate machines and produce fertilizer and energy from stubble. Instead of burning stubble, a new approach is emerging in the fields: agriculture and the environment can coexist.

Mann government strong message

The Mann government has sent a strong message that if the government works with intention, even a long-standing problem can be solved. The work done in Punjab to control stubble and pollution has been done not through speeches or slogans, but through on-the-ground action.

Punjab govt's story an inspiration

Today, Punjab's story is an inspiration for the entire country. The aggressive and organized approach taken by the Mann government to tackle this problem has transformed stubble from a symbol of pollution to a force for change. Punjab is no longer shrouded in the smoke of stubble burning, but is seen in a new light of progress. The partnership between farmers and the government has proven that when the resolve is strong, the air is clean and the land remains green. This is the same Punjab that suffered years of infamy over stubble burning, but now it is showing the nation how to create solutions. The Mann government has delivered, and now other states are also looking to Punjab.