CAQM asks NCR states to use drones to track stubble burning

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has asked the governments of Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan to use drones to monitor stubble burning in paddy-growing areas.

The advisory focuses on identified hotspot villages and locations considered prone to farm fires. CAQM has asked states to conduct drone surveys between 3 pm and 9 pm, when people may attempt to burn crop residue outside the window of satellite detection.

Stubble burning in neighbouring agricultural regions is one of the factors that can worsen Delhi NCR’s air quality during the post-monsoon season. Drone surveillance could help authorities identify fires that are missed or detected late through satellite monitoring, allowing for quicker action at the local level.

For NCR residents, the direction signals an early push to limit a recurring contributor to seasonal pollution. Its impact will depend on how consistently states deploy drones, monitor vulnerable areas and act on violations detected during the surveys.