Punjab Records 5,002 Stubble Burning Incidents; 1,155 FIRs Registered
Punjab has recorded 5,002 stubble burning incidents during the ongoing paddy harvesting season, with authorities registering 1,155 FIRs and imposing environmental compensation of ₹79.75 lakh, according to the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) report dated November 10. Of the total reported incidents, field inspections have been conducted in 4,185 cases, while stubble burning has been physically confirmed at 1,833 locations across the state.
₹79.75 Lakh Compensation Imposed
According to the PPCB report, environmental compensation has been imposed in 1,574 cases under the Environmental Compensation (EC) scheme. The total fines amount to ₹79.75 lakh, of which ₹36.40 lakh has been recovered so far. Authorities have also registered 1,155 FIRs, while red entries have been made in the revenue records in 1,342 cases.
Tarn Taran Reports Highest Number of Cases
Among the districts, Tarn Taran leads with 676 stubble burning incidents, followed by Ferozepur with 654 cases and Sangrur with 566 cases. Bathinda has reported 439 incidents, while Patiala has recorded 339 cases.
Patiala: 166 Farm Fires Confirmed
In Patiala, officials inspected 260 farms, physically confirming stubble burning at 166 locations. Environmental compensation has been imposed in 115 cases, amounting to ₹5.80 lakh, of which ₹2.40 lakh has been recovered. The district has also registered 123 FIRs, made red entries in 97 revenue records and issued 225 warning notices.
18 Supervisory Officers Face Prosecution
The report also states that prosecution proceedings have been initiated against 18 supervisory officers for alleged negligence in handling stubble burning cases. These include five officials from Ferozepur and 13 from Tarn Taran. However, no officer has been charged or suspended so far, according to the report.
Paddy Harvesting 96.10% Complete
Punjab has a total paddy cultivation area of 32.87 lakh hectares, of which harvesting has been completed on 96.10%. Despite the harvesting season nearing its conclusion, stubble burning continues to remain a challenge for the state administration and pollution control authorities.