Punjab records 1,152 farm fires on Diwali, sharpest single-day spike this season
The surge in stubble-burning incidents has pushed the state's seasonal total to 4,459 fires, according to official data.
Punjab recorded 1,152 farm fires on Diwali, marking the sharpest single-day spike in paddy stubble-burning incidents this season, according to reports by Rediff and The New Indian Express. This surge increased the state's total seasonal count from 3,307 on November 7 to 4,459 on Sunday.
The highest number of incidents on Sunday was reported in Sangrur with 194 fires. Other districts reporting high numbers on Sunday included Ferozepur with 157, Bathinda with 132, Patiala with 92, Barnala with 91, and Ludhiana with 71.
Tarn Taran has recorded the highest seasonal tally of 654 fires. Other districts with high seasonal counts include Ferozepur at 592, Sangrur at 488, Bathinda at 406, Patiala at 288, and Amritsar at 247.
Enforcement agencies have registered 884 FIRs under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and marked 1,017 red entries in land revenue records. Authorities have imposed environmental compensation of Rs 62.55 lakh in 1,228 cases, recovering Rs 32.60 lakh so far.
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) recently held a meeting with officials to review prevention steps. The CAQM directed that monitoring and enforcement be intensified and nodal officers be held accountable for failures to prevent farm fires.