CAQM Cracks Down: Notices Issued to Punjab Officials Over Rising Stubble Burning
CAQM issues show-cause notices to Gurdaspur and Kapurthala officials as stubble burning rises and Delhi's AQI hits 451.
As the national capital gasps for breath under a blanket of toxic smog, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has taken a stern stance against administrative negligence. The commission has issued formal show-cause notices to the Deputy Commissioners (DCs) and Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs) of Gurdaspur and Kapurthala, following a worrying spike in stubble burning incidents across these regions.
The crackdown comes at a critical time when air pollution in Delhi has reached hazardous levels, with the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) soaring to 451 on Tuesday, triggering severe health concerns for millions of residents.
Kapurthala Under the Scanner: Rising Fires, Zero Action
The CAQM's order highlights a disturbing trend in Kapurthala. Data reveals that between September 15 and November 2, 2026, there were 99 reported fire incidents. This is an increase compared to the 96 incidents recorded during the same period in 2025.
However, the commission is not just concerned about the fires, but the lack of accountability. According to an Action Taken Report dated November 2, 2026, submitted by the Punjab Government, no action had been initiated against the responsible officials under Section 14 of the CAQM Act, 2021, despite the continued occurrence of these fires.
Further compounding the issue is a glaring failure in ground-level monitoring. The order notes that the Parali Protection Force failed to detect or report any fire incidents, leading the commission to question the effectiveness of the current surveillance and monitoring mechanisms in the field.
The Ultimatum: Explain or Face Action
Faced with evidence of non-compliance and ineffective monitoring, the CAQM has demanded a detailed explanation from the officials. The commission has directed the DCs and SSPs to explain why action should not be initiated against them under Section 14 of the Act for contravening the orders and directions issued by the body.
The officials have been given a tight deadline, with the commission requiring a response by November 6 to justify the increase in crop-residue burning in their respective jurisdictions.
Ground-Level Inspections and Preparedness
This administrative action follows a comprehensive field review by a high-level team led by the Chairperson of the CAQM. The team conducted extensive visits across Punjab, including Ropar, Hoshiyarpur, and Amritsar, to assess the reality of paddy straw management.
During these visits, the team inspected several key installations, including:
- Thermal power plants and Compressed Bio-Gas (CBG) plants.
- Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVK).
- Biomass plants and actual farm fields.
According to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the objective of these visits was to evaluate both in-situ and ex-situ measures being implemented on the ground to prevent stubble burning during the current paddy harvesting season.