Smog chokes Fazilka as farmers continue to set paddy straw on fire

Even as there has been a decrease in the stubble burning cases in Fazilka compared to the last few years, smog, which was primarily caused due to the activity, continues to affect lives. Despite the efforts made by civic and police authorities to motivate farmers, paddy stubble is being set on fire in the fields. Over 50 FIRs have been registered across

the district.

Due to this, people have to face a lot of problems. The unchecked illegal practice, apart from causing severe air pollution, invites road accidents as it reduces visibility on the roads in Fazilka. A local said Jalalabad was known as the leading paddy growing area, but the number of farm fire cases was lesser than Fazilka.

Hundreds of people have to face trouble due to the fire on the road leading from village Sajrana to Dhani Kotu Ram in Fazilka. Locals said the fire was set when students in the rural area were being ferried to their homes in school vans. Due to the fire, people kept waiting for the fire to be extinguished for about half an hour.

The affected people demanded the administration to increase police patrolling on the roads linking the fields in the villages so that such incidents could be prevented.

They said in most of the cases registered for violating the District Magistrate’s prohibitory orders, erring farmers were not being identified, apparently due to political pressure, resulting in no arrest.