Punjab Records 5,785 Cases of Stubble Burning, Patiala Reports 388 Incidents
Punjab has reported 5,785 stubble burning incidents as of November 13, with Patiala accounting for 388 cases amid ongoing monitoring efforts.
Patiala, November 14 (Daily Kiran) : The Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) has reported a total of 5,785 incidents of stubble burning across the state as of November 13. This comes as the administration intensifies efforts to curb the practice amid the ongoing rice harvest, which is now 98% complete statewide.
In an extensive inspection campaign, officials examined 5,312 farms and verified 2,347 locations where fires had occurred. As part of enforcement actions, 2,095 environmental compensation cases have been filed, resulting in fines totaling ₹1,05,85,000. So far, ₹39,35,000 has been collected from these penalties.
Additionally, law enforcement has registered 1,669 first information reports (FIRs) related to stubble burning and made 1,971 entries in revenue records. Authorities have also issued 1,603 warning notices to offenders.
Focusing on Patiala district, the rice harvest is nearly complete, with 98% of the work done. The district has recorded 388 stubble burning incidents, with inspections conducted on 340 farms and physical verifications at 217 fire sites.
In Patiala, 162 environmental compensation cases have been initiated, leading to fines amounting to ₹8,15,000, of which ₹3,00,000 has been recovered. The district has also seen 209 FIRs filed and 136 entries made in revenue records, with 390 warning notices issued to violators.
Regionally, Tarn Taran has reported the highest number of stubble burning incidents at 695, followed by Sangrur with 674, Ferozepur with 794, and Ludhiana with 300 cases. Despite the high incidence of stubble burning, the report noted that no charge sheets or suspension orders have been issued against any nodal or supervisory officials up to November 13.
