Farmer’s arrest over stubble burning sparks outrage; SKM to meet in Chandigarh

The arrest of a farmer in Jalandhar for burning paddy stubble has triggered strong resentment among farmer unions. The Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) has announced a meeting in Chandigarh on Saturday to decide the next course of action.

From September 15 to 25, the satellite observing farm fires has captured as many as 79 incidents of active fire from across the state. Field inspection was carried out at 75 sites, and at 43 sites, crop burning was verified physically. An environmental compensation of Rs 1,95,000 has been imposed in 41 cases and Rs 1,65,000 has been recovered. As many as 41 cases under Section 223 of the BNS has been registered against farmers for disobeying the order and indulging in stubble burning. In 24 cases, red entries have been imposed in farm records.

The development comes as the Supreme Court asked the Punjab Government why errant farmers should not be arrested to send a strong message, while directing the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and state boards to suggest measures within three weeks to curb pollution ahead of winter.

SKM leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said that on Wednesday, administration teams in Amritsar also imposed fines on farmers caught burning paddy residue.

“There is no scientific study proving that Punjab’s stubble burning is the reason for Delhi’s pollution. Farmers are being made easy targets, while no action is taken against industries that openly pollute. Not a single industrialist running dyeing units has been arrested. On the contrary, the Centre and the Punjab Government amended the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act in 2024, decriminalising water pollution offences and replacing jail terms with fines of up to Rs 15 lakh. Yet, when it comes to pollution, farmers are sent to jail, not corporates,” said Pandher.

He further pointed out that the Supreme Court had directed an incentive of Rs 100 per quintal for paddy residue management, but the government had never implemented it. “Stubble management machines cost over Rs 1 to 2 lakh even after subsidy, and are required only for a few days. Most of these machines have failed to deliver practical results,” he added.

Pandher also said that the issue of stolen tractors and other valuables during the police eviction of farmers from the Shambhu and Khanauri morcha sites in March would also come up for discussion in the meeting.

Pandher both stressed that Delhi’s air crisis is driven by multiple factors — dense population, traffic, industries, construction and domestic emissions —and pointed out that farmers in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh also burn stubble, but Punjab alone is blamed.

The Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) data shows stubble burning cases dropped 70 per cent in 2024, with 10,909 cases compared to 36,663 in 2023 and 49,922 in 2022. Last year, Sangrur reported the highest number of cases (1,725), followed by Ferozepur (1,342), Tarn Taran (876), Muktsar (816) and Amritsar (735).