Punjab records 2,787 stubble burning cases with Rs 46.10 lakh in fines
The Punjab Pollution Control Board reported that 710 FIRs have been registered as harvesting reaches 87.60 per cent of the state's paddy area.
A report by the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) covering the period up to November 5 shows that 2,787 incidents of paddy stubble burning have been documented in Punjab. According to ANI, authorities verified fires at 994 sites following inspections at 2,194 locations.
Environmental compensation fines amounting to Rs 46.10 lakh were levied in 914 instances, with Rs 24.85 lakh collected so far. Officials have also filed 710 First Information Reports (FIRs) under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and recorded 'red entries' in revenue documents for 829 cases.
Tarn Taran district reported the highest number of incidents at 586, with 294 confirmed cases. Other districts with significant activity include Ferozepur with 361 incidents, Sangrur with 240, Amritsar with 221, and Bathinda with 216.
In Patiala, 156 incidents were recorded, with 59 confirmed through inspections of 103 sites. The district saw Rs 2.15 lakh in fines imposed across 42 cases, with Rs 70,000 recovered, alongside 27 FIRs and 25 warning notices.
The total paddy cultivation area in the state is 32.87096 lakh hectares, of which 87.60 per cent was harvested by November 5. Across Punjab, 786 warning or show-cause notices were issued, and prosecution proceedings have started against officials in 18 cases.