475 Ferozepur villages report 'zero' stubble burning this year

Owing to consistent monitoring, technological support and active participation from farmers, this border district has recorded almost a 50 per cent dip in stubble-burning incidents and seen a 20 per cent increase in machinery utilisation as compared to the previous year. 

Almost 475 villages have reported "zero" fire incidents to date. While 497 cases of stubble burning had been reported up to November last year, 263 incidents have surfaced so far this year. A total of 1,342 cases of farm fire were reported last year, 3,409 in 2023 and 4295 in 2022, indicating a gradual decline in stubble-burning incidents in this district which shares its boundary with Pakistan.

10 farmers booked

The Ferozepur police on Friday booked 10 farmers in 18 cases for stubble burning. On Thursday, 13 farmers were booked in 24 cases. More than 90 farmers have been booked and 76 FIRs have been registered to date over farm fires in the district.

DC Deepshikha Sharma said the administration was putting in multi-pronged coordinated efforts to further bring the number down, adding that farmers were cooperating in the endeavour, bringing much-needed relief from farm fires. She added more than 80 per cent crop had been harvested till now. 

“Even the number of villages with five or more fire incidents has plummeted from 85 to just two this year," said the DC, adding that the district has also achieved unprecedented growth in biomass utilisation through multiple innovative steps. “The biomass plant of Sukhbir Agro at Hakumat Singh Wala village has sourced 82 to 90 per cent of the total straw requirement, a sharp increase from 45-50 per cent last year," she said, adding that six new pelletisation plants have been installed with a combined carrying capacity of 72-75 metric tonne to boost the biomass processing infrastructure.

In another innovative step, the administration made it mandatory for all 63 brick kilns in the district to utilise paddy straw as an alternative fuel source. “These kilns are collectively consuming around 10,000 MT of paddy residue, marking a major step towards sustainable ex-situ utilisation," said the DC. She added that to curb stubble burning, 391 nodal officers and 45 cluster offices had been appointed across 652 villages of the district. “These officials not only assist farmers but also keep a strict vigil, ensuring immediate reporting against those indulging in stubble burning,” said the DC.