Punjab records 4,459 stubble burning cases as Delhi air quality drops
The Commission for Air Quality Management has imposed Rs 62.55 lakh in fines following stubble burning incidents in Punjab.
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) recorded 4,459 stubble burning incidents in Punjab as of November 8, according to reports from ANI and The News Mill. Physical inspections at 2,998 sites confirmed burning at 1,310 locations.
Authorities imposed environmental compensation in 1,228 cases, levying fines of Rs 62.55 lakh. Of this amount, Rs 32.60 lakh has been recovered. Additionally, 884 First Information Reports (FIRs) were filed under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and red entries were made in the land records of 1,017 farms.
Tarn Taran reported the most incidents with 654 cases, followed by Ferozepur with 592, Sangrur with 488, Bathinda with 406, and Patiala with 288. Prosecution proceedings have also been started against 18 nodal officers under Section 14 of the CAQM Act.
In New Delhi, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) reported that the air quality index (AQI) reached 400 on the morning of November 9. Burari Crossing recorded the highest AQI at 441, while Vivek Vihar reached 437.
Delhi Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) president Saurabh Bhardwaj alleged that the government is manipulating AQI data. Bhardwaj claimed that monitoring stations were shut down and 20 new stations were placed in green areas to influence readings.
Bhardwaj further alleged that water is being sprinkled on monitoring stations in polluted areas to alter data. He claimed AQI values had exceeded 3,000 in several areas.