Of total 8,404 farm fire cases in Punjab, 50% reported in past 2 weeks

Despite over 10,000 government officials deputed in the field and hundreds of cops on vigil, Punjab witnessed 50 per cent of the total farm fire cases this season in the past two weeks. Meanwhile, the air quality in the state continues to remain between “poor” to “very poor” with high concentration of pollutants.

Data gathered by The Tribune reveals that out of total 8,404 cases reported in the state from September 15 to November 17; 4,262 were reported in the last 14 days. While 2,479 cases were reported between November 3 and 10, 1,783 were reported during the last week. On Sunday, the state saw 404 cases, 74 of them in Ferozepur, 70 in Bathinda, 56 in Muktsar and 45 in Moga. On the same date in 2022, 966 active fire events were recorded, while the number was 1,150 in 2023.

The state recorded total 83,002 farm fires in 2020, 71,304 in 2021, 49,922 in 2022 and 36,663 in 2023.

Senior officials of the Agriculture Department, meanwhile, claimed that they had been largely successful in keeping farm fire count down. Following a spike in farm fires, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) had last week issued notices to two deputy commissioners and two senior superintendents of police, asking them to send “explanation” on the issue.

Data compiled by the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) states that till November 13, the state has imposed environmental compensation worth Rs 1.30 crore in 3,846 cases out of which Rs 97.47 lakh has been realised. The data further shows that 4,097 FIRs have been registered and 3,842 red entries made in the land records of erring farmers.

Meanwhile, the air quality index (AQI) in all major cities of the state shows that the air quality continues to vary from “poor” to “very poor” category with thick smoggy conditions prevailing in majority of the cities. The state has been enveloped in a thick blanket of smog for the past almost a week, leading to accidents and poor visibility on roads. The conditions are worse during morning and evening hours. Experts said though the number of farm fires had started declining, it would take time for the air quality to improve in the affected areas.