Madhya Pradesh is close to passing Punjab and Haryana in paddy stubble burning cases, marking a shift in a trend long linked to the northern states. Data from the CREAMS project under IARI shows the state recorded 1,052 farm fires on November 11, the highest count in the country that day. This pushed its total to 3,569 cases since September 15, only behind Punjab’s 4,507.
Yearly data shows growth
The rise is not sudden. Yearly data shows steady growth in paddy stubble burning across Madhya Pradesh.
| Year | Paddy stubble burning cases |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 14,148 |
| 2021 | 8,160 |
| 2022 | 11,737 |
| 2023 | 12,500 |
| 2024 | 16,360 |
What has alarmed researchers is the pace of the increase. Of the 3,569 cases recorded so far, 2,947 were reported in the past week alone. On November 4, the total stood at 622. By November 11, it had jumped more than fivefold.
Daily numbers show the surge clearly. The state logged 131 incidents on November 5, 354 on November 6, 237 on November 7, 353 on November 8, 398 on November 9, 422 on November 10, and a peak of 1,052 on November 11. On that day, Madhya Pradesh accounted for nearly one-third of all farm fires detected across India.
Researchers link the rise to the state’s late paddy harvest. Farmers begin cutting the crop in late October and continue through November. In Punjab and Haryana, harvesting peaks earlier, which means their fire counts start dropping just as Madhya Pradesh’s climb. An analyst tracking the data described the trend as “an unwanted race” between states.
Districts reporting the highest fire clusters include Narmadapuram, Seoni, Guna, Ashoknagar, and Datia. Many of these areas reported similar spikes last year, when Madhya Pradesh topped the country with 13,309 cases between September 15 and November 22.
Local administrations have begun taking action. Police have filed FIRs in districts such as Chhindwara and Sagar. In Rewa, officials have imposed a fine of ₹15,000 along with an FIR for those found burning stubble. Officers say the goal is to deter repeat fires as harvesting continues.
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