SEASONAL SYNCHRONIZATION OF AVIAN MIGRATION AND STUBBLE BURNING: LEGAL IMPERATIVES FOR PERILOUS HUMAN-WILDLIFE INTERACTION IN PUNJAB

The intersection of toxic pollution from over 35,000 instances of illegal stubble burning in Punjab, India, during October and November, and the migration of over 100,000 winter migratory birds presents a severe ecological and legal crisis. Stubble burning is not only an ecological hazard but also a violation of multiple national environmental laws, such as the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, and contravenes India's obligations under international conventions, including the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS). The CMS COP14 report reveals that 44% of migratory species are experiencing population declines, with 22% at risk of extinction. These findings underscore the urgent need for stringent enforcement of laws prohibiting stubble burning, interdisciplinary research, and policy interventions. Addressing this issue is vital for achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 15, concerning life on land. The alarming decline in bird populations at key wetlands in Punjab further emphasizes the necessity of legal and policy actions to mitigate the adverse effects of air pollution on migratory birds.