The commission noted that during the 45-day period, 8,986 stubble burning incidents were reported in Punjab, compared to 6,474 during the corresponding period last year. File.
| Photo Credit: The Hindu
Stubble burning cases in Punjab and Haryana from April 1 to May 15 rose by 38.80% and 118.89% over the corresponding period last year, the Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) noted in a meeting on Friday (May 15, 2026). It directed the NCR governments to implement stricter enforcement mechanisms and reviewed measures to control air pollution in the region.
The commission noted that during the 45-day period, 8,986 stubble burning incidents were reported in Punjab, compared to 6,474 during the corresponding period last year. Haryana reported 3,290 incidents, compared to 1,503 over the same period in 2025, an official said.
Electric 3-wheelers
It also approved a direction mandating registrations of only electric three-wheelers (passenger and goods) in Delhi from January 1 next year and in the five neighbouring districts of Gurugram, Faridabad, Sonipat, Ghaziabad, and Gautam Buddha Nagar from January 1, 2028. In the remaining NCR districts, the ban on autorickshaws running on conventional fuel will come into effect on January 1, 2029.
The commission noted that a recent report by air quality experts identified vehicles as one of the major contributors to PM2.5 emissions and emphasised the need for an accelerated transition towards cleaner mobility.
The CAQM also announced that 46 air quality monitoring stations would be added to its network across the region. Of these, 14 will come up in Delhi, 16 in Haryana, 15 in Uttar Pradesh and one in Rajasthan, taking the total number of monitoring stations in the NCR to 157.
Published – May 16, 2026 03:03 am IST
