Farm fire count nears 100, experts warn of surge

Punjab has reported a total of 95 farm fires in the past 15 days. No such incident was recorded on Tuesday.

However, experts cautioned a likely surge in the coming days as harvesting starts in Punjab’s Malwa region.

Till now, the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) has imposed environmental compensation of Rs 2.30 lakh in 95 cases, of which Rs 1.80 lakh has been recovered from farmers found involved in stubble burning. As many as 51 FIRs under Section 223 of the BNS for criminal disobedience of a lawful order promulgated by a public servant has been registered.

According to a PPCB official, the Revenue Department has marked 33 red entries.

Red entries in the revenue records of farmers imply that those found involved in stubble burning will not be able to avail loans, mortgage and sell their land. Additionally, farmers will also be denied gun licences. Five FIRs against unknown persons have also been registered for setting paddy residue on fire.

Meanwhile, the air quality index (AQI) reading in all major cities of the state remained under 100, which is stated be satisfactory.

The monitoring of stubble burning had begun on September 15. According to the available data while 95 incidents of farm fires have been witnessed till September 30, 129 incidents were reported during the corresponding period last year and 147 in 2023.

With 55 incidents, Amritsar has accounted for 57 per cent of the total farm fire reported till Tuesday. However, experts maintained that it was a temporary reprieve and farm fires may pick up again in days to come. “We have witnessed a spurt in farm fires in Amritsar because early sown crop was harvest to sow potato and other vegetables. In few days, the crop will be ready in Malwa — that is the time when stubble burning may pick up again,” said the expert in the PPCB.