CAQM deploys flying squads in 34 Punjab and Haryana districts to curb stubble burningਪਰਾਲੀ ਸਾੜਨ 'ਤੇ ਰੋਕ ਲਈ 34 ਜ਼ਿਲ੍ਹਿਆਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਫਲਾਈਂਗ ਸਕੁਐਡ ਤੈਨਾਤ

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has stepped up enforcement on the ground, deploying flying squads across 34 districts in Punjab and Haryana to prevent paddy stubble burning during the 2026 harvest season. The move, announced on October 5, targets the annual post-harvest fires that choke northern India every winter.

The deployment has been communicated through the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), which will anchor the field mechanism. The squads will remain on the ground from October 1 to November 30, 2026 — the critical paddy harvesting window — with deployment structured in successive phases so that no district loses coverage between rotations.

How the squads will work

The flying squads will assess the ground-level situation in their allocated districts and work closely with district administrations, enforcement authorities and other field-level stakeholders responsible for preventing and controlling paddy residue burning, the Commission said.

Their brief is to make sure preventive measures are actually reaching farmers and that authorities respond quickly when fire incidents are detected. The ground situation, along with the steps taken to prevent further fires, will be reported to the CAQM Cell on a daily basis.

Which districts are covered

In Punjab, the deployment covers 18 districts: Sangrur, Tarn Taran, Firozpur, Muktsar, Bathinda, Amritsar, Moga, Mansa, Fazilka, Patiala, Ludhiana, Kapurthala, Faridkot, Barnala, Malerkotla, Gurdaspur, Jalandhar and Fatehgarh Sahib.

In Haryana, the monitored districts are Jind, Fatehabad, Hisar, Kaithal, Sonipat, Rohtak, Sirsa, Karnal, Palwal, Jhajjar, Kurukshetra, Ambala, Yamunanagar, Faridabad, Panipat and Hansi — 16 districts in all.

Why this season matters

Paddy stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana is a major contributor to the episodic deterioration of air quality across the northern plains, particularly the winter smog that envelops Delhi-NCR every year. CAQM has been continuously monitoring, coordinating and reviewing the implementation of prevention measures with state governments, state pollution control boards and district administrations.

The Commission has reiterated the need for concerted efforts by all concerned agencies, along with active facilitation and cooperation from farmers and other stakeholders, to keep farm fires down through the season. The daily field reports from the flying squads will let it assess the situation continuously and follow up with the concerned authorities wherever needed.

Which districts in Punjab will have flying squads?

The squads cover 18 districts in Punjab — including Sangrur, Tarn Taran, Firozpur, Bathinda, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Patiala and Jalandhar — alongside 16 districts in Haryana.

How long will the squads stay deployed?

The deployment runs from October 1 to November 30, 2026, in phased rotations so that monitoring stays uninterrupted through the entire paddy harvest season.

What will the squads do in the field?

They will assess the ground situation in their districts, coordinate with district administrations and enforcement agencies, push preventive action where fires are detected, and send daily reports to the CAQM Cell.