Punjab Records 73% Decline in Farm Fires: How Delayed Harvest and Stricter Monitoring Reduced Stubble Burning

The significant reduction in farm fires comes amid delayed paddy harvesting due to rainfall extending into the first week of October.

Patiala:

Punjab documented 415 farm fire incidents between September 15 and October 21 this year, showing a substantial decrease from 1,510 incidents during the same timeframe last year, according to available data.

The Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) data revealed that in 2023, the number of farm fires recorded during this period was 1,764.

This notable decrease coincides with delayed paddy harvesting as rainfall continued throughout the state until early October. Additionally, flood damage in certain areas of Punjab further postponed crop harvesting.

Officials attribute the reduction to more stringent field monitoring and awareness initiatives educating farmers about the negative consequences of stubble burning.

The PPCB data indicates that Punjab has 31.72 lakh hectares under paddy cultivation this year. As of October 21, approximately 32.84 percent of this area had been harvested.

In Tarn Taran district, 67.95 percent of paddy cultivation areas have been harvested, while Amritsar reports 70 percent completion. These two districts have reported the highest numbers of farm fires.

Barnala has harvested 8.10 percent of its paddy cultivation area, followed by 8 percent in Moga and 17 percent in Sangrur.

Of the total farm fires, Tarn Taran reported 136, Amritsar 120, Ferozepur 41, Patiala 27, Gurdaspur 16, and Sangrur 14, as per the data.

The number of stubble burning incidents in the state stood at 116 on October 11 and increased to 415 over the subsequent 12 days.

As harvesting accelerates across most districts and farmers prepare their fields for wheat sowing in the coming days, it remains uncertain whether these numbers will continue to rise.

According to the PPCB, environmental compensation fines totaling Rs 9.40 lakh have been imposed in 189 cases of stubble burning thus far. Of this amount, Rs 6.25 lakh has been collected.

Additionally, 170 FIRs have been registered regarding stubble burning incidents, including 61 in Tarn Taran and 50 in Amritsar.

These cases have been filed under Section 223 (disobedience of orders promulgated by a public servant) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

Punjab recorded 10,909 farm fires in 2024 and 36,663 in 2023, representing a 70 percent reduction.

Previous years saw 49,922 incidents in 2022, 71,304 in 2021, 76,590 in 2020, 55,210 in 2019, and 50,590 in 2018.