Punjab records 2,787 stubble burning incidents since September 15
Authorities have imposed fines of Rs 46.10 lakh and registered 710 FIRs as farm fires continue across the state.
Punjab recorded 2,787 incidents of paddy stubble burning between September 15 and November 5, according to reports by ANI and Press Trust of India. Out of the total cases, officials confirmed fires at 994 sites after inspecting 2,194 locations.
Environmental compensation fines totalling Rs 46.10 lakh have been levied in 914 cases. So far, Rs 24.85 lakh has been recovered. Additionally, 710 FIRs have been filed under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for disobedience of orders issued by a public servant.
Tarn Taran reported the highest number of incidents with 586 cases, including 294 FIRs. Other districts with high counts include Ferozepur with 361 incidents, Sangrur with 240, Amritsar with 221, Bathinda with 216, and Patiala with 156.
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) reviewed prevention measures in a meeting on Wednesday. Chairperson Rajesh Verma led the session via video conference with senior officials and police from 12 districts to address the high number of fires.
The CAQM directed officials to improve enforcement and stated that nodal officers should be held accountable if they fail to prevent farm fires. In Patiala, 27 FIRs were registered and 25 warning notices were issued.
As of November 5, harvesting has been finished across 87.60 per cent of the 32.87096 lakh hectares under paddy cultivation in Punjab.