Punjab Records 1,152 Farm Fires On Diwali, Biggest Single-day Spike This Season

Punjab witnessed its sharpest single-day spike in paddy stubble-burning incidents this season on Diwali, with 1,152 farm fires reported across the state, according to official data.

This pushed the state's total count from 3,307 on November 7 to 4,459 on Sunday.

The highest number of farm fires this season has been reported from Tarn Taran at 654, the data showed.

The latest figures indicate a significant rise in crop residue burning despite government advisories, enforcement measures and monetary penalties aimed at discouraging the practice.

The annual farm fire monitoring period begins on September 15, two weeks before paddy procurement starts on October 1.

With 194 fires, Sangrur recorded the highest number of stubble-burning incidents on Sunday, taking its seasonal tally to 488. Ferozepur reported 157 incidents, bringing its total to 592; and Bathinda added 132 cases, taking its count to 406.

Patiala recorded 92 fresh farm fires, raising its cumulative tally to 288. Barnala reported 91 new incidents and Ludhiana 71.

The data showed that till Sunday, enforcement agencies had registered 884 FIRs under Section 223 (disobedience of orders promulgated by a public servant) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and marked 1,017 red entries in land revenue records against farmers found burning stubble.

Fines totalling over ₹62 lakh have been imposed as environmental compensation in 1,228 cases of stubble burning, with over Rs 32 lakh already recovered.

Recently, taking a serious view of the "very high" number of farm fires in Punjab, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) held a meeting with senior bureaucrats and police officers from 12 districts to review steps to prevent stubble burning.

The CAQM directed that the monitoring and enforcement drive must be intensified and nodal officers must be held accountable for lack of monitoring and for failure to prevent farm fires.