Home / Environment / Punjab Sees Drastic Drop in Paddy Stubble Fires, Imposes ₹71.8L in Fines
Punjab Sees Drastic Drop in Paddy Stubble Fires, Imposes ₹71.8L in Fines
8 Nov
Summary
- Punjab records 3,284 stubble burning cases as of Nov 6, 2024
- Environmental compensation of ₹71.8 lakh imposed on 1,436 violators
- CAQM chair acknowledges state's commendable efforts to control farm fires
According to a presentation made on November 6, 2024, the state of Punjab has seen a significant decline in the number of stubble burning incidents. As of that date, the state has recorded 3,284 cases of crop residue burning, a sharp drop from the 19,463 cases logged during the same period in 2023.
To curb the practice, the state government has taken strict punitive action. So far, an environmental compensation of ₹71.8 lakh has been imposed on 1,436 individuals, and red entries have been made in the revenue records of 1,328 farmers. Additionally, 1,092 criminal cases have been registered against farmers for burning paddy stubble.
The CAQM (Commission for Air Quality Management) chairperson, Rajesh Verma, acknowledged the state's commendable efforts to control farm fires, stating that the change is visible on the ground. However, he cautioned the officials to remain alert, as there are still a few days left before the harvesting season comes to an end.
The CAQM team recently visited the rural areas in the Malwa belt of Punjab and found no instances of stubble burning in the six districts they surveyed. The ambient air quality was also reported to be "crystal clear" with the Air Quality Index (AQI) under control.
