Punjab Farm Fires Hit 404 and Top the List; Tarn Taran Alone at 198ਪੰਜਾਬ ਵਿੱਚ ਪਰਾਲੀ ਦੀਆਂ ਅੱਗਾਂ 404 ਤੱਕ ਪਹੁੰਚੀਆਂ, ਤਰਨ ਤਾਰਨ ਸਭ ਤੋਂ ਅੱਗੇ

Punjab recorded 36 cases of crop residue burning on Tuesday, pushing the season total to 404 and placing the state at the top of the farm fire list for the ongoing paddy harvesting season. The figures, drawn from the Consortium for Research on Agroecosystem Monitoring and Modelling from Space (CREAMS) and reported by The Times of India, put Punjab ahead of Madhya Pradesh, which has recorded 388 cases so far.

The count has risen sharply in two days. On 18 October the season total stood at 220. With harvesting in full swing across the Majha and Malwa belts, officials say the daily numbers now decide how much smoke drifts towards Delhi and the National Capital Region in the weeks ahead.

Two border districts drive the count

Tarn Taran has reported the maximum 198 cases, followed by Amritsar with 117. Together the two border districts account for 315 of Punjab's 404 cases, more than three quarters of the state total. District figures reported by the Punjab Pollution Control Board and carried by Daily Kiran list Gurdaspur at 23 cases, Kapurthala at 16, Ferozepur at 14, Jalandhar at 5 and Patiala at 4.

The Punjab Pollution Control Board said inspections had been carried out on 358 fields, with stubble burning confirmed at 151 locations. A high-level team from the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) is visiting parts of Punjab and directing district administrations to make all-out efforts to eliminate farm fire cases, The Times of India reported.

Where Punjab stands nationally

Across the seven states tracked in the CREAMS data, 1,265 cases of crop residue burning have been reported till 20 October, spread over 123 districts, including 18 in Punjab. After Punjab at 404 and Madhya Pradesh at 388, Rajasthan has recorded 215 cases, Uttar Pradesh 187, Uttarakhand 61, Haryana 9 and Delhi 1.

On Tuesday alone, the five states that reported fresh burning logged 94 cases between them: 36 in Punjab, 18 each in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, 12 in Uttar Pradesh and 10 in Uttarakhand. Punjab's single-day figure was double that of any other state.

FIRs, fines and red entries

With the spurt in cases, penal action has been intensified. The Times of India reported that 27 FIRs have been registered under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which covers disobedience of an order duly promulgated by a public servant. Fifteen of those FIRs are in Tarn Taran, three each in Amritsar and Jalandhar, two in Gurdaspur and one each in Fazilka, Ferozepur, Sangrur and Patiala.

Environmental compensation of Rs 6.40 lakh has been imposed in 126 cases, of which Rs 2.60 lakh has been realised. Red entries, which are marks against the land records of farmers found burning residue, have been made in 100 cases: 70 in Tarn Taran, 19 in Amritsar, six in Ferozepur, four in Jalandhar and one in Sangrur. Warning and show-cause notices have been issued to 152 nodal and supervisory officers.

The CAQM has deployed flying squads across Punjab to monitor stubble burning until 30 November. The teams are stationed in the main rice-producing districts, including Sangrur, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur, Muktsar, Bathinda, Amritsar, Moga, Mansa, Fazilka, Patiala, Ludhiana, Kapurthala, Faridkot, Barnala, Malerkotla, Gurdaspur, Jalandhar and Fatehgarh Sahib.

How many farm fires has Punjab recorded this season?

Punjab has recorded 404 cases of crop residue burning till 20 October, the highest among the seven states tracked, ahead of Madhya Pradesh at 388.

Which districts have the most farm fires?

Tarn Taran leads with 198 cases, followed by Amritsar with 117. Together they make up more than three quarters of the Punjab total.

What action has been taken against stubble burning?

Officials have registered 27 FIRs under Section 223 of the BNS, imposed Rs 6.40 lakh in environmental compensation in 126 cases, made red entries in 100 land records and issued notices to 152 supervisory officers.

Who is monitoring farm fires in Punjab?

The Punjab Pollution Control Board is inspecting fields, and the Commission for Air Quality Management has deployed flying squads across the state's rice-producing districts until 30 November.