Stubble burning fines cross Rs 1 crore, 1,574 FIRs registered

The Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) has so far imposed environmental compensation of Rs 1.03 crore on farmers found violating norms by burning paddy residue. The fines have been levied in 1,961 cases. Of the total amount, Rs 48.8 lakh has been recovered.

The police have also registered 1,574 FIRs, while the Revenue Department has made 1,920 “red entries” in land records of offenders — effectively barring them from availing loans, selling or mortgaging land, or applying for gun licences.

The seasonal tally of farm fires has reached 4,662, with the state recording the highest single-day count of 442 cases on November 1. Despite the continuing violations, the figures show a 35 per cent decline from last year’s 7,112 cases during the same period.

The PPCB had imposed over Rs 2 crore of environmental compensation in 2024 on the erring farmers, registering around 3,500 FIRs and over 5,400 "red entries" in the land records.

According to PPCB data, farm fire incidents had already seen a sharp drop last year — falling 70 per cent from 36,663 in 2023 to 10,909 in 2024. Officials attribute the improvement to enhanced enforcement, better residue management and increased farmer awareness, though experts warn the gains remain fragile as farm distress continues.