Express News Service
CHANDIGARH: Stubble-burning cases in Punjab reached a concerning peak today, with 2,544 reported—the second-highest in a single day this season. The overall tally for crop residue-burning incidents in the state soared to 30,661.
This surge in farm fire incidents has persisted for four consecutive days, raising fears among officials and experts that the numbers will escalate, particularly in the Malwa belt, where 30% of paddy is yet to be harvested. The AQI in Punjab fluctuated between moderate and very poor categories. Punjab Police issued a red alert across all districts, promising legal action.
The Punjab Remote Sensing Centre identified Bathinda as the district with the highest cases (356), followed by Moga (318) and Barnala (264). Despite the release of Rs 1,426.41 crore for crop residue management machines since 2018, the burning cases persist.
In districts like Bathinda, Moga and Fazilka, where 30% of paddy remains unharvested, challenges are exacerbated by recent rain, rendering fields inaccessible to machinery. Farmers, grappling with wet fields and unusable bales, resort to burning as a last resort.
However, pollution body in Punjab shows own version to NGT
NEW DELHI: The Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) told the National Green Tribunal (NGT) that there is a nearly 52 per cent reduction in the stubble burning incidents reported till October 31 in comparison to last year’s paddy harvesting season. In an action taken report, the pollution control body was replying to the green court in a suo motu case based on the media reports highlighting the ‘stubble fires spike’ in the neighbouring state of Delhi.
The PPCB said that authorities identified hot spot districts such as Sangrur, Bathinda, Ferozepur, Muktsar, Moga, Patiala, Tarn Taran and Barnala on the basis of fire incidents reported. The state also deputed 8,500 officials to prevent stubble-burning incidents. The authorities found 4,328 stubble burning sites and an environmental compensation of Rs 24.3 lakh was imposed in 973 cases, it stated.
Meanwhile, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in the National Capital Region and adjoining areas told the tribunal that 81 per cent of cumulative fire incidences from September 15 to November 5 were contributed by Punjab and 38 per cent of crop burning incidents by Haryana.
“At this juncture when the paddy stubble burning incidents are at peak, the state government of Punjab and other administrative agencies under it need to strictly implement an action plan to bring down stubble burning cases in areas where paddy harvest/management of paddy straw is still underway,” the CAQM said. As many as 14,110 farm fires were reported from October 27 to November 5 in Punjab and 576 incidents in Haryana during the same time, it said.
8,500 officials deployed to prevent stubble burning
The Punjab Pollution Control Board said that authorities identified hot spot districts such as Sangrur, Bathinda, Ferozepur, Muktsar, Moga, Patiala, Tarn Taran and Barnala on the basis of fire incidents reported. The state also deputed 8,500 officials to prevent stubble-burning incidents.
(With inputs from Jaison Wilson) Follow channel on WhatsApp
CHANDIGARH: Stubble-burning cases in Punjab reached a concerning peak today, with 2,544 reported—the second-highest in a single day this season. The overall tally for crop residue-burning incidents in the state soared to 30,661.
This surge in farm fire incidents has persisted for four consecutive days, raising fears among officials and experts that the numbers will escalate, particularly in the Malwa belt, where 30% of paddy is yet to be harvested. The AQI in Punjab fluctuated between moderate and very poor categories. Punjab Police issued a red alert across all districts, promising legal action.
The Punjab Remote Sensing Centre identified Bathinda as the district with the highest cases (356), followed by Moga (318) and Barnala (264). Despite the release of Rs 1,426.41 crore for crop residue management machines since 2018, the burning cases persist.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });
In districts like Bathinda, Moga and Fazilka, where 30% of paddy remains unharvested, challenges are exacerbated by recent rain, rendering fields inaccessible to machinery. Farmers, grappling with wet fields and unusable bales, resort to burning as a last resort.
However, pollution body in Punjab shows own version to NGT
NEW DELHI: The Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) told the National Green Tribunal (NGT) that there is a nearly 52 per cent reduction in the stubble burning incidents reported till October 31 in comparison to last year’s paddy harvesting season. In an action taken report, the pollution control body was replying to the green court in a suo motu case based on the media reports highlighting the ‘stubble fires spike’ in the neighbouring state of Delhi.
The PPCB said that authorities identified hot spot districts such as Sangrur, Bathinda, Ferozepur, Muktsar, Moga, Patiala, Tarn Taran and Barnala on the basis of fire incidents reported. The state also deputed 8,500 officials to prevent stubble-burning incidents. The authorities found 4,328 stubble burning sites and an environmental compensation of Rs 24.3 lakh was imposed in 973 cases, it stated.
Meanwhile, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in the National Capital Region and adjoining areas told the tribunal that 81 per cent of cumulative fire incidences from September 15 to November 5 were contributed by Punjab and 38 per cent of crop burning incidents by Haryana.
“At this juncture when the paddy stubble burning incidents are at peak, the state government of Punjab and other administrative agencies under it need to strictly implement an action plan to bring down stubble burning cases in areas where paddy harvest/management of paddy straw is still underway,” the CAQM said. As many as 14,110 farm fires were reported from October 27 to November 5 in Punjab and 576 incidents in Haryana during the same time, it said.
8,500 officials deployed to prevent stubble burning
The Punjab Pollution Control Board said that authorities identified hot spot districts such as Sangrur, Bathinda, Ferozepur, Muktsar, Moga, Patiala, Tarn Taran and Barnala on the basis of fire incidents reported. The state also deputed 8,500 officials to prevent stubble-burning incidents.
(With inputs from Jaison Wilson) Follow channel on WhatsApp
