98 fresh stubble burning cases in one day in Punjab, Ludhiana count reaches 27
As many as 98 new farm fire incidents were reported across the state on Monday, taking the total cases in the current season to 1,612.
A continuous rise is being recorded in the paddy residue burning cases across Punjab. On Monday, 98 new incidents of setting stubble on fire came to light across the state. With this, the number of such cases in the state during this harvesting season has reached 1,612.
The pace of smoke rising from fields has also accelerated in Ludhiana district over the past few days. A total of 27 fire incidents have been recorded in the district so far. Although the police have not registered any FIR here yet, red entries have certainly been marked in the revenue accounts of five cultivators.
Tarn Taran district is leading the list across Punjab with 489 incidents. Besides this, 193 cases have surfaced in Ferozepur and 192 in Amritsar.
To curb the rising incidents of stubble burning, the administration has intensified legal action. Under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for disobedience to government orders, 389 FIRs have been registered so far across Punjab. Out of these, the maximum of 240 cases have been registered in Tarn Taran district alone.
According to government data, environmental compensation of Rs 26.1 lakh has been imposed at 518 places, out of which Rs 17.6 lakh has been recovered. Red entries have been made in the land records in a total of 422 cases, and show-cause notices have been issued to 536 officials for showing negligence in monitoring.
Ludhiana Chief Agriculture Officer Gurdeep Singh stated that fire incidents are fewer this time compared to last year. According to him, improvements have been witnessed in several constituencies due to farmers receiving baler machines for making stubble bales and the organization of awareness camps.
Key developments
- 98 new stubble burning cases registered in a day in Punjab, total count reaches 1,612
- 27 fire incidents recorded in Ludhiana district so far, red entry in five farmers' records
- Tarn Taran district ahead in the state with 489 cases and 240 FIRs
- 389 cases registered and fine of Rs 26.1 lakh imposed across the state
