Cases of stubble burning drop 70% in Fazilka

The district this year witnessed only about 30% of the stubble burning incidents reported during the corresponding period last year.

According to information gathered by The Tribune, the district saw 287 incidents of farm fire in 2022, 98 in 2023 and only 32 this year. The data pertains to the period from September 15 to November 2.

SSP Varinder Singh Brar said the Fazilka police were at the forefront of the awareness campaign against stubble burning. He said they had come up with a comprehensive plan of conducting meetings wherein farmers were informed about the detrimental effect of crop residue burning on health and environment.

According to official sources, 15 FIRs have been registered under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita against those burning paddy stubble in the district this year. Besides, a fine to the tune of Rs 47,500 was imposed on the violators and 14 red entries have been made in the revenue record of farmers found indulging in stubble burning.

Ten warning and show-cause notices have been issued to nodal and supervisory officers who failed to perform their duty of preventing farm fires.