Tarn Taran dist reports one-third of farm fires; Amritsar close second

The poll-bound Tarn Taran district has reported maximum farm fire incidents in the state.

Out of 49 cases in the state today, 16 were reported from Tarn Taran. The number of incidents has reached 561 and 175 of them, nearly 31 oper cent, have been reported from Tarn Taran alone. Amritsar followed with 135 stubble burning cases. Ferozepur reported 66 incidents.

The Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) has imposed a total fine of Rs 13.25 lakh in 246 cases, and recovered Rs 8.95 lakh so far.

The police have registered 215 FIRs, including 58 in Amritsar and 68 in Tarn Taran, under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for the disobedience of orders related to stubble burning. The Revenue Department has made 214 “red entries” in land records of violators, a move that bars farmers from availing loan, mortgaging or selling land, or obtaining gun licence.

Meanwhile, the air quality fell under ‘moderate’ category in Amritsar (112), Bathinda (114), Patiala (119), Jalandhar (165) and Ludhiana (198). The AQI of Mandi Gobindgarh touched 200. The AQI of 0-50 is considered ‘good’, 51-100 ‘satisfactory’, 101-200 ‘moderate’, 201-300 ‘poor’, 301-400 ‘very poor’ and 401-500 ‘severe’.

18 farmers honoured for not burning paddy stubble

Sangrur: Deputy Commissioner (DC) Rahul Chaba and SSP Sartaj Singh Chahal on Friday honoured 18 progressive farmers for not burning paddy stubble in the past few years. The DC praised the farmers for protecting the environment and boosting their income. He called them local heroes.