Punjab Farm Fires Hit 220, Above Last Year; Tarn Taran, Amritsar Make Up 80%ਪੰਜਾਬ ਵਿੱਚ ਪਰਾਲੀ ਸਾੜਨ ਦੇ 220 ਮਾਮਲੇ, ਪਿਛਲੇ ਸਾਲ ਤੋਂ ਵੱਧ; ਤਰਨ ਤਾਰਨ-ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤਸਰ ਦਾ ਹਿੱਸਾ 80 ਫ਼ੀਸਦੀ

Punjab has recorded 220 farm fires so far this paddy season, already above the 208 logged by the same point last year, according to official data reported by Hindustan Times and The Times of India. Two border districts account for four out of every five cases.

The numbers so far

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) report dated 17 October counts 220 incidents under the ISRO satellite protocol since the tracking period began on 15 September, Hindustan Times reported. Officials inspected 191 fields and physically verified crop burning at 68 sites. Punjab logged 29 new fires on Saturday alone, The Times of India said.

The season's total is still far below the past two years. Punjab recorded 5,114 cases last year, down from 10,909 in 2024, according to HT. But harvesting has picked up after last week's rain, and the tally is now running slightly ahead of last year's pace.

Tarn Taran and Amritsar lead

Tarn Taran has reported 95 fires and Amritsar 81, together 176 of the 220 cases across 23 districts, HT said. Ferozepur has 10, while Gurdaspur and Muktsar have five each. Seven districts have reported none. The Times of India noted that the two border districts are the worst affected not just in Punjab but across the seven states that report to CAQM, even after a high-level CAQM team visited them and told officials to make every effort to stop the burning.

Across the seven states, 57 fresh cases were reported on Saturday, taking the total to 865. Madhya Pradesh tops that tally with 354 cases, followed by Punjab at 220, Uttar Pradesh at 134 and Rajasthan at 124, according to The Times of India.

Fines, FIRs and red entries

The state has stepped up penalties. HT reported environmental compensation of Rs 3.35 lakh in 65 cases, of which Rs 1.45 lakh has been recovered, along with 19 FIRs under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 41 red entries in land records and 94 warning or show-cause notices to nodal and supervisory officers. Twelve of the FIRs are from Tarn Taran. The Times of India, using a slightly different count, put the figures at 18 FIRs and Rs 3.2 lakh in 62 cases.

CAQM team members led by T S Panwar visited Moga and Faridkot on Friday and Saturday to review stubble management, including machinery for in-situ and ex-situ handling of residue and field surveillance, The Times of India reported.

Why farmers still burn

Farmers have a very short window between harvesting paddy and sowing wheat, and burning is the quickest way to clear the field, HT noted. Studies suggest many set fires after 3 pm to avoid satellite detection, which is why authorities want more checks on the ground. Rajiv Gupta, a nodal officer at the Punjab Pollution Control Board, said efforts were on to keep this year's count lower than last year's.

Stubble smoke is a major contributor to the seasonal spike in air pollution across Delhi-NCR in October and November.

How many farm fires has Punjab recorded this season?

Punjab has recorded 220 farm fires since 15 September, compared with 208 at the same point last year, according to the CAQM report dated 17 October.

Which districts have the most stubble burning cases?

Tarn Taran has 95 and Amritsar has 81, which together make up about 80% of the state's cases.

What action is being taken against farmers?

Officials have imposed environmental compensation, registered 19 FIRs, made red entries in land records and issued notices to 94 officers, according to Hindustan Times.