As air quality worsens in Delhi-NCR and nearby areas, the central government has increased fines to reduce stubble burning. Under the new rule, the maximum fine is set at Rs 30,000. This action came after the Supreme Court expressed concern over the deteriorating air quality in the Delhi-NCR region.
According to the notification from the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change on 6th November, farmers with over five acres of land will be fined Rs 30,000 for stubble burning. Farmers with less than two acres will face a fine of Rs 5,000, up from the previous Rs 2,500. Those with two to five acres will now be fined Rs 10,000.
Air quality in Delhi-NCR reaches hazardous levels in winter due to stubble burning, vehicle emissions, Diwali firecracker smoke, and other local pollution sources. The Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) reports that air pollution in Delhi-NCR peaks from November 1 to 15, largely due to stubble burning in nearby states of Punjab and Haryana.
A report by Climate Trends, an environmental organization, highlights a reduction in stubble-burning incidents in Punjab and Haryana between 2019 and 2023. In Haryana, incidents dropped from 14,122 in 2019 to 7,959 in 2023. Punjab saw a decline from 95,048 fires in 2020 to 52,722 in 2023. Despite these reductions, stubble burning continues to affect Delhi’s air from September to December.