Punjab Stubble Burning Cases Surge to 484: Impact on Delhi-NCR Air Quality and Enforcement Measures

Stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana is frequently cited as a major contributor to the deteriorating air quality in Delhi-NCR.

Punjab has documented 484 stubble burning incidents from September 15 to October 22, representing a significant increase of 296 cases from the previous count of 188 recorded until October 16, according to data from the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB).

The data reveals that Tarn Taran district registered the highest number of farm fires at 154, with Amritsar following at 126, Ferozepur at 55, Patiala at 31, and Gurdaspur at 23. Many farmers continue to disregard government appeals to cease crop residue burning practices.

The practice of stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana is commonly associated with increased air pollution levels in the Delhi-NCR region.

Farmers often resort to setting their fields on fire to quickly eliminate crop residue due to the limited time window between paddy harvest in October-November and the planting of the Rabi wheat crop. Environmental compensation fines totaling Rs 11.45 lakh have been imposed in 226 cases thus far, with Rs 7.40 lakh already collected, according to PPCB records.

The data further indicates that 184 FIRs were registered against farm fire incidents during this period under Section 223 (disobedience of order promulgated by public servant) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including 61 in Tarn Taran and 53 in Amritsar.

State authorities have also marked 187 red entries in land records of farmers who burned crop residues, primarily in Tarn Taran and Amritsar districts.

These red entries prevent farmers from obtaining loans against their farmland or selling their property.

PPCB data shows that the total area under paddy cultivation in Punjab this year is 31.72 lakh hectares, with 36.71 percent of this area harvested as of October 22.

Despite the state government's campaign to highlight the negative effects of stubble burning and promote the benefits of proper crop residue management, many farmers continue to employ burning as their preferred method for clearing fields.

Punjab recorded 10,909 farm fires in 2024 compared to 36,663 in 2023, showing a 70 percent decrease in the practice.

The state documented 49,922 farm fire events in 2022, 71,304 in 2021, 76,590 in 2020, 55,210 in 2019, and 50,590 in 2018, with districts including Sangrur, Mansa, Bathinda, and Amritsar witnessing substantial numbers of stubble burning incidents.