33% drop in cases of stubble burning in Amritsar, officials hope it will reach 40%

Incidents of stubble burning in the district have dropped by around 33 per cent this year, thanks to the cooperation of farmers and the joint efforts of various departments.

As per data from the Agriculture Department, till October 25 last year, 472 farm fire cases were reported in the district, while this year only 154 such incidents have been confirmed. Officials said that around 1,48,738 hectares of paddy, nearly 83 per cent of the total cultivated area, has already been harvested.

The decline in stubble burning is being seen as a positive sign of increasing awareness among farmers about eco-friendly crop residue management.

According to the Punjab Pollution Control Board, special teams have inspected every location flagged by satellites for possible fire incidents. Legal action has been taken by the authorities concerned in all 154 confirmed cases. At present, 74 balers are working across the district and have covered more than 50,000 hectares for stubble collection.

Similarly, 1,251 in-situ management machines are being used to mix the straw back into the soil, covering nearly 65,878 hectares. Officials expressed the hope that with continued farmer support, Amritsar district will see over a 40 per cent reduction in stubble burning cases this season