Punjab Pollution Control Board flags 2,347 stubble burning incidents
The state has registered 647 FIRs and imposed environmental fines totalling Rs 40.37 lakh as of November 4.
The Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) has recorded 2,347 incidents of stubble burning in the state as of November 4, according to a report by ANI. The administration has registered 647 FIRs and made red entries in revenue records in 723 cases.
The department has imposed environmental fines of Rs 40.37 lakh, with Rs 23.05 lakh recovered so far. Out of 1,942 fields inspected, fires were confirmed at 868 locations, and environmental compensation was imposed in 801 cases.
Tarn Taran district recorded the highest number of incidents at 558, followed by Ferozepur with 316, Amritsar with 207, Bathinda with 167, and Sangrur with 163. In Patiala district, 110 incidents were recorded, with 21 FIRs registered and 25 warning notices issued.
The PPCB report stated that harvesting has been completed in 85.10 per cent of the 32.87 lakh hectares of paddy area in Punjab. Despite inspections and fines, stopping field fires remains a challenge.
Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa contested claims made by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann regarding paddy harvesting. Sirsa alleged that Mann misinformed the public and claimed that 77 per cent of the stubble has already been burnt.
Sirsa noted that Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) rose from 60 on October 30 to 377 by November 4. He stated that the air quality in the national capital witnessed a significant downgrade within four days.