Stubble burning: Air quality commission issues notices to Gurdaspur and Kapurthala DCs, SSPs

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has issued notices to the deputy commissioners and senior superintendents of police of two more Punjab districts, Gurdaspur and Kapurthala, due to a rise in stubble burning incidents.

Tarun Kumar Piththode, member secretary of the commission under the Union Ministry of Environment, has directed these officials to submit their clarification by November 6. He warned that if the reply is not received within the stipulated time, action will be initiated under the provisions of the Commission Act 2021.

According to the commission's data, 100 fire incidents have been reported in Gurdaspur between September 15 and November 2, compared to 53 cases during the same period last year, marking an increase of about 89 percent. In Kapurthala too, the figure has risen to 99 compared to 96 last year.

The CAQM mentioned in its notice that according to the action-taken report submitted by the Punjab government on November 2, no step was taken against the concerned officials despite the continuation of incidents. The commission also stated that many farm fire cases are not being registered as per set rules, reflecting a lack of ground-level monitoring.

Meanwhile, activists of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) in Mehla Chowk village of Sangrur picketed the commission's team from Delhi that arrived to investigate stubble burning. Farmer leaders Harjit Singh and Manjit Singh Gharachon said that farmers do not burn stubble by choice and the government should take responsibility for its management. According to police officials, the team was later allowed to leave the village safely.

Key developments

• CAQM sent notices to DCs and SSPs of Gurdaspur and Kapurthala seeking a reply by November 6.
• An increase of about 89 percent was recorded in stubble burning cases in Gurdaspur.
• The commission alleged that the Punjab government did not take action against negligent officials according to the law.
• Farmers' body picketed the Delhi team that arrived in Sangrur for investigation.