Tribune India: New Delhi: Tuesday, 30 December 2025.
Stubble burning
contributed only 3.5% to Delhi’s PM2.5 levels in 2025, a sharp decline from 13%
in 2020, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has revealed in response to a
Right to Information (RTI).
The RTI, filed by environmental activist Amit Gupta, shows that for data on contribution of different sources to Delhi’s PM2.5 and PM10 levels, the CPCB continues to rely on the 2018 TERI-ARAI Source Apportionment report.
The CPCB in its response has not provided any updated, comprehensive assessment of pollution sources in Delhi-NCR.
Data shared by the Central Pollution Control Board shows that the average contribution of stubble burning to Delhi’s PM2.5 levels was 3.5% in 2025 (October-December), 10.6% in 2024, 11% in 2023, 9% in 2022, 13% in 2021 and 13% in 2020.
The Tribune has reported that in one of the earlier RTI replies, the Central Pollution Control Board has revealed that around 8,600 FIRs were registered against farmers in Punjab and Haryana over the past two years for stubble burning, with nearly Rs 60 crore recovered as fines.
Gupta pointed out that enforcement against farmers has been aggressive and financially punitive. Meanwhile, enforcement against major pollution sources within Delhi-NCR remains weak, he said.
“Garbage burning continues year-round, construction and demolition norms are routinely flouted, road dust mitigation is inadequate, diesel generators operate unchecked, older vehicles emit high pollution and industries and thermal power plants continue to discharge pollutants,” Gupta said.
Together, these sources contribute 85-90% of PM2.5 in the NCR region.
PM2.5 is the most lethal air pollutant, linked to heart disease, stroke, asthma, pregnancy complications and premature deaths.
The RTI, filed by environmental activist Amit Gupta, shows that for data on contribution of different sources to Delhi’s PM2.5 and PM10 levels, the CPCB continues to rely on the 2018 TERI-ARAI Source Apportionment report.
The CPCB in its response has not provided any updated, comprehensive assessment of pollution sources in Delhi-NCR.
Data shared by the Central Pollution Control Board shows that the average contribution of stubble burning to Delhi’s PM2.5 levels was 3.5% in 2025 (October-December), 10.6% in 2024, 11% in 2023, 9% in 2022, 13% in 2021 and 13% in 2020.
The Tribune has reported that in one of the earlier RTI replies, the Central Pollution Control Board has revealed that around 8,600 FIRs were registered against farmers in Punjab and Haryana over the past two years for stubble burning, with nearly Rs 60 crore recovered as fines.
Gupta pointed out that enforcement against farmers has been aggressive and financially punitive. Meanwhile, enforcement against major pollution sources within Delhi-NCR remains weak, he said.
“Garbage burning continues year-round, construction and demolition norms are routinely flouted, road dust mitigation is inadequate, diesel generators operate unchecked, older vehicles emit high pollution and industries and thermal power plants continue to discharge pollutants,” Gupta said.
Together, these sources contribute 85-90% of PM2.5 in the NCR region.
PM2.5 is the most lethal air pollutant, linked to heart disease, stroke, asthma, pregnancy complications and premature deaths.
.JPG)
.JPG)
