New Delhi, 30 July (H.S.): To control the rise in air pollution in Delhi-NCR during the annual paddy harvesting season, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has emphasised the use of drone technology for monitoring incidents of stubble burning. The commission has directed the governments of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan to establish a drone-based surveillance system before the upcoming paddy harvesting season.

In a statement issued on Thursday, CAQM said that drones would help detect stubble burning incidents through rapid deployment, high-resolution images, and real-time video monitoring. The technology would enable the identification of active fires, smoke plumes, and affected agricultural fields.

Geo-tagged photographs and videos captured through drones will serve as crucial evidence for taking necessary action.

The states have been instructed to prioritise drone surveys in paddy cultivation areas, previously identified hotspot villages, and locations with a higher likelihood of fire incidents.

The states have also been asked to prepare drone flight plans in advance and integrate them with land records to accurately identify affected fields.

CAQM stated that drone surveys should be conducted during daytime hours, with special focus between 3 pm and 9 pm, as stubble burning incidents have often been reported during this period to evade satellite-based monitoring.

Data Preservation and Monitoring Centre Guidelines

The states have been directed to preserve all drone-recorded videos for three months after the completion of the respective crop harvesting season. They have also been asked to establish a central dashboard for analysis and reporting of drone surveillance data.

Live feeds and recordings from drone operations will be made available to CAQM, enabling real-time monitoring and swift action.

CAQM has asked the governments of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan to submit an Action Taken Report on compliance with these directions by August 14, 2026.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar