Madhya Pradesh Surges in Stubble Burning Cases, Edges Closer to Punjab

Bhopal: Stubble burning incidents are rising sharply in Madhya Pradesh, pushing the state to the second spot nationally after Punjab. On 11 November alone, 1,052 cases were reported, taking the total to 3,569 incidents since 15 September. Authorities have begun taking action against offenders.

Crisis Revealed Through Satellite Data
The alarming figures were highlighted by the CREAMS (Consortium for Research on Agroecosystem Monitoring and Modeling from Space) report, commissioned by the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi. The report shows that on 11 November, MP recorded the highest number of stubble burning incidents in the country on a single day.

State-wise Comparison
Between 15 September and 11 November:

• Punjab: 4,507 incidents
• Madhya Pradesh: 3,569 incidents
• Uttar Pradesh: 2,224 incidents
• Rajasthan: 1,577 incidents
• Haryana: 435 incidents

Madhya Pradesh is now on the verge of overtaking Punjab in stubble burning incidents if the current pace continues.

Rapid Increase in Recent Days
Most of the surge has been linked to the late harvesting of Rabi crops. Out of the 3,569 cases, 2,947 were reported in just the last seven days, compared to 622 cases on 4 November. Daily incidents in MP rose as follows:

• 5 Nov: 131 cases
• 6 Nov: 354 cases
• 7 Nov: 237 cases
• 8 Nov: 353 cases
• 9 Nov: 398 cases
• 10 Nov: 422 cases
• 11 Nov: 1,052 cases

The spike coincides with delayed paddy harvesting in MP, which usually begins at the end of October and extends into November, later than Punjab and Haryana. As a result, stubble burning in MP peaks just as northern states see a decline.

Hotspot Districts
The worst-affected districts include Narmadapuram, Seoni, Guna, Ashoknagar, and Datia. Last year, MP topped the national stubble burning chart with 13,309 cases between 15 September and 22 November, surpassing Punjab.

Administrative Action
Authorities in several districts, including Chhindwara and Sagar, have filed FIRs against stubble burners. In Rewa, officials announced FIRs and a ₹15,000 fine for each violation. Experts warn that unless strict regulations and farmer support measures are implemented swiftly, MP could once again emerge as India’s leading state for stubble burning.

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