Punjab Faces Surge in Stubble Burning Incidents Amid Harvest Season

Chandigarh, October 28 (Daily Kiran) : In Chandigarh, authorities have reported more than 700 incidents of stubble burning in Punjab, leading to the registration of 24 First Information Reports (FIRs). According to a recent report from the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB), 717 cases of stubble burning have been documented as of Tuesday.

Officials stated that monitoring and enforcement efforts are underway to curb these incidents, particularly during the rice harvesting season. The PPCB’s district-wise report indicated that inspections were conducted at 664 locations, confirming stubble burning at 313 sites.

The highest number of cases occurred in Tarn Taran district, which reported 318 incidents. Inspections in this area covered 299 locations, with stubble burning confirmed at 152 sites. The report noted that environmental compensation was imposed in 152 cases, totaling fines of ₹780,000, of which ₹265,000 has already been collected. Additionally, 64 cases were registered, and 152 farms received ‘red entries’ for poor records.

Amritsar followed with 154 incidents, where inspections confirmed stubble burning at 75 of 150 sites checked. Fines totaling ₹335,000 were levied in 70 cases, with ₹285,000 already collected. The district also recorded 24 FIRs and issued 186 warning notices.

Other districts reported stubble burning incidents as well, with 42 cases in Ferozepur, 47 in Gurdaspur, and 46 in Kapurthala. Confirmations of stubble burning were made at 20 sites in Ferozepur, 17 in Gurdaspur, and 15 in Kapurthala.

As the rice harvest season continues, concerns over stubble burning are rising. To address this, a dedicated helpline has been launched for farmers across Punjab, encouraging them to seek practical solutions for managing crop residues instead of burning them. The initiative, linked to Clean Air Punjab, AirCare Center, and Saanjha Punjab, has established a telephone helpline at +91 79737 27514, operational from 9 AM to 5 PM.