SQM deployed a flying squad to stop burning of rice straw in Punjab‑Haryana.

After year‑long rice harvesting, stubble burning remains a major cause of air pollution in India's two key agricultural regions, Punjab and Haryana. In recent years, the government has repeatedly implemented bans and incentive schemes, but lack of monitoring and farmers' financial pressures have kept the practice alive. Against this backdrop, the CQM has adopted a new strategy by deploying a ‘Flying Squad’. This specialized unit coordinates aerial drones, light helicopters, and ground mobile teams, enabling rapid detection and prevention of stubble‑burning incidents. Squad members are highly trained officials and environmental experts who, based on real‑time data, issue warnings and action directives to local authorities.

Comparative analysis of data from before the Flying Squad’s deployment shows a notable reduction in burning incidents. The initiative has been positively welcomed by the agriculture department, state governments, and environmental organizations, as it not only improves air quality but also encourages farmers to adopt alternative crop‑residue management techniques such as biomass utilization and machine‑based stubble collection. Moreover, under this initiative, local police and village panchayats have been directed to play an active role, thereby expanding the scope of ground‑level monitoring.

Going forward, the CQM plans to implement this model in other rice‑producing areas as well, and to work with state‑level policymakers on long‑term