सीएक्यूएम ने पंजाब-हरियाणा में पराली जलाने पर फ्लाइंग स्क्वाड तैनात किए

06 Oct सीएक्यूएम ने पंजाब-हरियाणा में पराली जलाने पर फ्लाइंग स्क्वाड तैनात किए

✎ The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has deployed Flying Squads in 34 districts of Punjab and Haryana during the 2026 paddy harvesting season to prevent stubble burning, enhance real-time monitoring, and ensure…

Subject Relevance — Where This Topic Fits

• GS Paper III — Environment and Pollution Control  |  GS Paper III — Agricultural Practices and Sustainability  |  GS Paper II — Federal Structure and Centre-State Coordination
• Prelims: Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), Paddy stubble burning, Stubble Management Policy, National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs), National Capital Region (NCR), Crop residue management, Flying Squads for monitoring
• Essay: Environmental governance and cooperative federalism in India, Balancing agricultural productivity with environmental sustainability

Quick Revision: The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has deployed Flying Squads in 34 districts of Punjab and Haryana during the 2026 paddy harvesting season to prevent stubble burning, enhance real-time monitoring, and ensure coordinated action among agencies under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP).

Why is this in the news?

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has intensified ground-level monitoring in Punjab and Haryana by deploying Flying Squads to prevent and control incidents of paddy stubble burning during the 2026 harvesting season. This initiative, operational from 1 October to 30 November 2026, covers 34 districts across both states and aims to enhance real-time assessment, inter-agency coordination, and immediate corrective action to mitigate air pollution in the National Capital Region (NCR) and adjoining areas.

Background

• Paddy stubble burning is a major contributor to air pollution in northern India, particularly in Punjab and Haryana, during the post-monsoon season (October–November).
• The practice is driven by the short window between paddy harvesting and the sowing of the next wheat crop, making residue management challenging for farmers.
• Stubble burning releases particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and other pollutants, exacerbating air quality in the NCR and beyond.
• The National Green Tribunal (NGT) and the Supreme Court of India have previously directed state governments to take stringent measures to curb stubble burning.
• The CAQM was established in 2021 under the Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Act, 2021, to formulate strategies and enforce measures for air quality improvement in the NCR and surrounding regions.
• The National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), launched in 2019, sets targets for reducing particulate pollution by 20–30% by 2024, with stubble management as a key component.

What is the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) and its role in stubble burning mitigation?

• The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) is a statutory body constituted under the Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Act, 2021, to address air pollution in the NCR and adjoining areas.
• Its mandate includes formulating strategies, enforcing measures, and coordinating actions among central and state agencies to improve air quality.
• The CAQM works in collaboration with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs), district administrations, and other stakeholders to implement stubble management policies.
• The deployment of Flying Squads is part of the CAQM’s broader strategy to enhance ground-level monitoring, which includes satellite-based surveillance, field inspections, and real-time reporting.
• Flying Squads consist of multi-agency teams comprising officials from the CPCB, SPCBs, district authorities, nodal officers from state governments, and representatives from the CAQM’s local cells.
• These teams conduct daily field assessments, interact with farmers and local stakeholders, and take immediate corrective actions to prevent stubble burning incidents.
• The CAQM also coordinates with the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) and other agricultural institutions to promote alternative stubble management techniques such as Happy Seeders, bio-decomposers, and in-situ management.
• The initiative aligns with the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) and the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) for air quality management in the NCR.

Key Features

Feature	Significance
Deployment of Flying Squads	Enhances real-time, ground-level monitoring across 34 districts in Punjab and Haryana to prevent paddy stubble burning during the harvest season (01.10.2026–30.11.2026).
State-wise Coverage	Punjab: 18 districts; Haryana: 16 districts, covering major paddy-producing regions such as Sangrur, Tarn Taran, and Hisar.
Multi-stakeholder Coordination	Involves farmers, Parali Raksha Force, district officials, state nodal agencies, SPCBs, and CAQM cells for unified action.
Daily Field Reports	Ensures continuous assessment of ground conditions and immediate reporting to CAQM for timely intervention.
Phased Deployment Strategy	Squads are rotated across districts to maintain sustained surveillance throughout the paddy harvesting period.

Why it Matters

Environmental

• Reduces air pollution in the NCR and adjoining regions by curbing stubble burning, a major contributor to winter smog.
• Supports compliance with the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) targets for particulate matter reduction.
• Mitigates long-term health impacts, including respiratory diseases, linked to seasonal air quality degradation.

Institutional

• Demonstrates the operational effectiveness of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in addressing transboundary air pollution.
• Strengthens inter-state coordination between Punjab, Haryana, and Delhi, aligning with the CAQM’s mandate under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
• Enhances the role of State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) and district administrations in pollution control measures.

Economic

• Reduces healthcare costs associated with air pollution-related illnesses in urban and rural populations.
• Supports agricultural productivity by discouraging practices that degrade soil health, such as stubble burning.
• Encourages adoption of alternative stubble management technologies, fostering innovation in the agri-tech sector.

Challenges

1. Farmer Adoption of Alternatives

• High cost and operational constraints of mechanised stubble management equipment (e.g., Happy Seeders, Super Straw Management Systems).
• Limited awareness among small and marginal farmers about government subsidies and incentive schemes for non-burning practices.
• Time constraints during peak harvest seasons reduce incentives to adopt slower, non-burning methods.

UPSC Link: Environmental Pollution: Agricultural Practices

2. Monitoring and Enforcement Gaps

• Large number of small landholdings complicates real-time monitoring and enforcement of burning bans.
• Dependence on manual reporting and limited technological integration in rural areas may delay response times.
• Coordination challenges between multiple agencies (state governments, SPCBs, district administrations) can lead to gaps in implementation.

UPSC Link: Environmental Governance: Institutional Mechanisms

3. Economic Incentives for Burning

• Perceived cost-effectiveness of burning over alternative methods due to lack of viable market linkages for stubble utilisation.
• Inadequate financial incentives for farmers to adopt eco-friendly practices, despite government schemes like the Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM).

UPSC Link: Agricultural Economics: Sustainability

4. Technological and Infrastructure Constraints

• Limited availability of custom hiring centres (CHCs) for mechanised equipment in remote districts.
• Inadequate storage and processing infrastructure for stubble-based products (e.g., bio-CNG, compost, or animal feed).

UPSC Link: Technology in Agriculture

5. Climatic and Seasonal Factors

• Unpredictable weather patterns (e.g., delayed monsoons) can compress the harvest window, increasing pressure to burn stubble.
• Low wind speeds and temperature inversions during winter exacerbate the impact of stubble burning on air quality.

UPSC Link: Climate Change: Impacts on Agriculture

Challenges — UPSC Perspective

Issue	Concern
Cost of Alternatives	High upfront costs deter small farmers from adopting non-burning practices despite long-term benefits.
Awareness Deficit	Lack of knowledge about government schemes and subsidies limits uptake of eco-friendly technologies.
Enforcement Bottlenecks	Insufficient manpower and resources hinder effective monitoring and penalisation of violators.
Infrastructure Gaps	Inadequate processing and storage facilities for stubble-based products reduce economic viability.
Seasonal Pressures	Peak harvest periods coincide with tight timelines, reducing incentives to adopt slower methods.
Inter-Agency Coordination	Fragmented roles among state, district, and central agencies create delays in implementation.

Government Initiatives — Must-Memorise for Prelims

• Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM)
• National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)
• Crop Residue Management Scheme (CRM)

Way Forward

• Scale up custom hiring centres (CHCs) for mechanised stubble management equipment in underserved districts of Punjab and Haryana.
• Expand awareness campaigns through Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) and local panchayats to educate farmers on alternative practices and subsidies.
• Strengthen real-time monitoring using satellite imagery (e.g., NASA FIRMS data) and AI-driven predictive analytics to identify burning hotspots.
• Enhance financial incentives for farmers by linking stubble-based products (e.g., bio-CNG, compost) to existing market demand and supply chains.
• Establish dedicated stubble processing clusters in high-burning districts to create economic value from agricultural waste.
• Improve inter-state data-sharing mechanisms between Punjab, Haryana, and Delhi to ensure seamless coordination under CAQM’s mandate.
• Promote public-private partnerships (PPPs) to invest in agri-tech startups developing low-cost stubble management solutions.
• Integrate stubble management into broader climate-smart agriculture (CSA) policies to align with India’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

UPSC Value Addition

Prelims Practice Questions

Q1. Consider the following statements regarding the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in the National Capital Region and its functions:

1. The CAQM is a statutory body established under the Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Act, 2021.
2. The CAQM has the power to impose penalties on states for non-compliance with air quality norms.
3. The CAQM is mandated to coordinate with state governments, pollution control boards, and district administrations for air quality management.
4. The CAQM can deploy Flying Squads to monitor and prevent stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana.

How many of the above statements are correct?

1. Only one
2. Only two
3. Only three
4. All

Answer: All — Statements 1, 3, and 4 are correct. Statement 2 is incorrect as the CAQM does not have the power to impose penalties; it coordinates and monitors compliance with air quality norms.

Q2. Assertion (A): The deployment of Flying Squads by the CAQM is aimed at reducing stubble burning incidents in Punjab and Haryana.

Reason (R): Stubble burning is a major contributor to air pollution in the National Capital Region (NCR) and adjoining areas during the post-harvest season.

In the context of the above two statements, which one of the following is correct?

1. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
2. Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
3. A is true, but R is false.
4. A is false, but R is true.

Answer: Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A. — Both A and R are true, and R correctly explains A. The Flying Squads are deployed to monitor and prevent stubble burning, a significant source of air pollution in the NCR.

Q3. Match the following states with the number of districts covered by the Flying Squads deployed by the CAQM to monitor stubble burning:

Column I (State) | Column II (Number of Districts Covered)
— | —
A. Punjab | 1. 16
B. Haryana | 2. 18

Select the correct match:

1. A-1, B-2
2. A-2, B-1
3. A-1, B-1
4. A-2, B-2

Answer: A-2, B-1 — Punjab has 18 districts covered by Flying Squads, while Haryana has 16 districts covered.

Mains Practice Question

✍ The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has intensified field-level monitoring by deploying Flying Squads in Punjab and Haryana to curb stubble burning. Critically examine the institutional and governance mechanisms employed by the CAQM to address air quality challenges in the National Capital Region (NCR) and adjoining areas. Also, analyse the role of multi-stakeholder coordination in ensuring effective implementation of stubble management policies. (15 Marks)

Approach: MODEL-ANSWER SKELETON:

1. **Institutional Framework of CAQM** (2 Marks):
– Statutory basis: Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Act, 2021.
– Composition: Representation from central and state governments, experts, and stakeholders.
– Powers: Coordination, monitoring, and advisory functions; no penal powers.

2. **Field-Level Monitoring Mechanisms** (3 Marks):
– Deployment of Flying Squads: Purpose, districts covered (Punjab: 18, Haryana: 16), and timeline (01.10.2026 to 30.11.2026).
– Role of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs).
– Integration with district administrations, nodal officers, and farmer associations.

3. **Stubble Burning and Air Quality Challenges** (3 Marks):
– Stubble burning as a major contributor to air pollution in NCR during post-harvest season.
– Environmental and health impacts: PM2.5 levels, respiratory diseases, and economic costs.
– Legal and policy framework: National Green Tribunal directives, state-level stubble management policies.

4. **Multi-Stakeholder Coordination** (4 Marks):
– Role of state governments, SPCBs, district administrations, and farmer associations.
– Challenges: Farmer resistance, lack of awareness, enforcement gaps, and resource constraints.
– Successes: Incentivisation schemes (e.g., subsidies for Happy Seeders), awareness campaigns, and technological interventions (e.g., bio-decomposers).

5. **Critical Analysis and Way Forward** (3 Marks):
– Effectiveness of CAQM’s mechanisms: Strengths (coordination, real-time monitoring) and limitations (penal powers absent, state compliance issues).
– Need for long-term solutions: Promotion of alternative stubble management technologies, farmer livelihood support, and inter-state cooperation.
– Role of judicial activism (e.g., Supreme Court directives) and public participation in ensuring accountability.

Source: PIB (Press Information Bureau)

Haryana PCS (HPSC / HCS) — State PCS Practice

Prelims: Under the ‘Flying Squad’ initiative launched by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to curb stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana, which of the following is the PRIMARY objective of deploying these squads?

1. A. To provide financial incentives to farmers for not burning stubble
2. B. To conduct real-time aerial monitoring and ground-level enforcement to prevent stubble burning incidents
3. C. To distribute subsidized machinery for in-situ stubble management
4. D. To conduct awareness campaigns in schools and colleges

Answer: B. To conduct real-time aerial monitoring and ground-level enforcement to prevent stubble burning incidents — The ‘Flying Squad’ initiative focuses on real-time aerial monitoring and ground-level enforcement to prevent stubble burning incidents in Punjab and Haryana.

Mains: Critically analyze the role of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in addressing the issue of stubble burning in Haryana. Discuss the effectiveness of the ‘Flying Squad’ initiative and suggest measures to further strengthen its implementation for sustainable agricultural practices in the state.

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