Madhya Pradesh cracks down on stubble burning: Can FIR, fines fix the problem?

The air in Madhya Pradesh is thick with smoke from burning fields. In districts like Vidisha, Hoshangabad, Ujjain, and Indore, farmers are setting fire to their crop residue to clear land for the next harvest. This year, the state recorded 17,534 stubble-burning incidents, with Indore ranking fifth in the state, according to the Consortium for Research on Agroecosystem Monitoring and Modelling from Space (CREAMS), under the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, reported.

Authorities crack down on stubble burning

On April 16, Indore authorities took strong action. They fined 102 farmers in one day, collecting over ₹3 lakh in fines. The total penalties for farmers in Indore reached ₹16.71 lakh. As stubble burning increased during the wheat harvest season, the authorities stepped up enforcement to prevent further environmental harm.

The administration escalated action against wheat residue burning, also called narwai, as incidents surged across Madhya Pradesh during the wheat harvest season. The Pollution Control Board and Indore district administrations have banned stubble burning under Section 19(5) of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. They issued prohibitory orders and launched enforcement drives across Madhya Pradesh.

 Ground Report has already covered how Indore’s clean-city image has camouflaged its bad air.  Indore, known for its high cleanliness standards ,is now grappling with growing air pollution. Since April 1, the Air Quality Index (AQI) has not dropped below 100. On April 9, it spiked to 236, a level that poses health risks to everyone, not just sensitive groups.

State capital Bhopal also took action. The Bhopal Municipal Corporation fined three individuals ₹2,500 each for burning stubble in Laharpur and Amravati Khurd under Ward 56. The total penalty came to ₹7,500. The BMC health team from Zone 14, with support from Awadhpuri police, acted under the Bhopal collector's orders. They also took written undertakings from the offenders not to repeat the act.

Officials from Bhopal Municipal Corporation say they need to take this action to deter open burning and stop environmental damage. The Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare has fined farmers ₹25 lakh so far. Officials have also filed over 50 FIRs. They charge ₹2,500 per incident from farmers with less than two acres. Those with two to five acres pay ₹5,000. Farmers owning more than five acres pay ₹15,000.

Farmers struggle without support

Farmers argue the government punishes them without offering alternatives. They need to clear fields fast to plant summer moong, a quick-growing crop that helps recover from poor wheat or paddy yields.

“There’s no time. The only option left is to burn the stubble if we want to plant the next crop,” said Ramlakhan Sharma, a farmer from Datia who now faces legal action.

Last year, Madhya Pradesh was second after Punjab in terms of stubble burning. In our report we have cited the  air quality index report from November 9 where AQI levels in several areas of Bhopal exceeded 300. The AQI was recorded at 316 in TT Nagar, 301 near the collectorate office, and 323 at the Environment Complex Monitoring Centre.

In January, the state submitted a report to the National Green Tribunal. It said Madhya Pradesh had 3.01 kW/Ha of farm power in 2023–24. Punjab had over 4.00 kW/Ha. The national average was 2.75 kW/Ha. This shows that Madhya Pradesh lags in farm mechanization.

Farmer leader Leeladhar Rajput blamed the government’s approach. He said authorities failed to address the root causes.

“Fires don’t always start because of farmers. Sometimes electric poles spark. Sometimes heat causes it. Blaming farmers blindly won’t solve anything,” he said.

The fire started around noon and took four hours to control. But the FIR listed the time as 6:30 p.m., raising suspicion of manipulation. 

Indore administration fixed penalty slabs based on landholding size: ₹2,500 for farmers with up to two acres, ₹5,000 for two to five acres, and ₹15,000 for those owning over five acres. Officials say they imposed these fines to recover environmental costs, not just to punish farmers. But many farmers say the system criminalizes them.

“Why don’t they support us with machines like happy seeders or decomposers?” asked Ramlakhan Sharma. “No one wants to burn the field, but the system gives us no options.”

Since 2017, the state has given out 31,284 Crop Residue Management (CRM) machines to farmers. It has also added 7,007 CRM machines to Custom Hiring Centres (CHCs). Still, only 4,000 of the 23,000 village panchayats have CHCs.

Govt pushes penalties while farmers demand solutions

In several districts, summer moong farming is expanding fast. Hoshangabad, Raisen, Dewas, Vidisha, Harda, and Sehore all reported a rise in moong acreage. With canal water available until May, farmers can irrigate and turn moong into a viable third crop.

“Wheat and paddy aren’t profitable. Moong gives better returns. That’s why we’re rushing to clear fields,” said Rajput. “But we get neither tools nor financial support to handle stubble properly. What are we supposed to do?”

He pointed out that Hoshangabad appeared in the top three stubble-burning districts in 2022 and 2023. This year’s data shows the trend continues.

Farmers across Madhya Pradesh now face a dilemma.

They need to plant moong in time. At the same time, the administration threatens fines, FIRs, and even jail time. Many believe the government’s approach shows no understanding of rural realities.

“Don’t treat us like lawbreakers. Talk to us, help us,” said Anil Kumar Sharma. “We are not the enemy.”

Rajput shared the same view.

“We don’t support burning. We know it damages the soil, the air, and even our own health. But you can’t just ban it without offering solutions.”

He demanded that the government provide alternatives and incentives for stubble management. He asked them to hold awareness campaigns and stop filing FIRs without evidence. “Even those who lost crops in fire are now accused,” he added. “This is harassment, not governance.”

Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Secretary M. Silvendran said the government has ordered all districts to check machine availability and run awareness campaigns before taking action against farmers.

Meanwhile, district authorities say they will continue the drive and expect to take more action. Farmers believe this approach will create fear, not cooperation.

“We want to work with the system. But the system has to stop punishing us for being poor,” said Ram Milan Sharma. “Burning is not our choice. It’s the only way left.”

The state has also cleared the Anna Data Mission to address farm issues, including stubble management.

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