State logs 20 fresh stubble-burning cases

As many as 20 cases of farm fire were reported across the state with highest number of paddy residue burning being reported from Kapurthala (five), followed by Patiala (four) and Fatehgarh Sahib (three). While two cases each were reported from Amritsar, Tarn Taran and Sangrur, one each was reported from Ferozepur and Jalandhar.

Amritsar tops the state with the greatest number of farm fires with 103 incidents of paddy residue burning reported so far.

The pollution control board has also quickened the penal process. Action has been taken against 212 defaulters so far. Environmental compensation of Rs 2.72 lakh has been imposed against 89 offenders and an amount of Rs 2.5 lakh has been recovered.

The Revenue Department has marked around 69 ‘red entries’. These entries in revenue records of farmers imply that those found involved in stubble burning will not be able to avail loans, mortgage and sell their land. Additionally, the farmers will also be denied gun licences. As many as 10 FIRs have also been registered for setting paddy residue on fire.

While the state witnessed 26 incidents on October 1, 16 were reported on October 2, eight, nine, five, three and 18 incidents of farm fires were recorded on October 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7, respectively.

Balkar Singh Patiala, district president of Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ekta-Ugrahan), shared a video wherein he claimed that he had set the paddy residue on fire as a mark of protest.

He claimed that for the past eight days he had been seeking a machine to carry out ex-situ management of the residue, but the administration did not provide the equipment. Following this, he decided to set his field on fire, Balkar said.

A farm expert said due to the slow pace of procurement, much of the crop was yet to be harvested and the number of farm fires would witness a sudden spike around the panchayat elections when the enforcement agencies would be busy maintaining law and order.

Since the PPCB began monitoring stubble burning on September 15, the state has seen a significant drop of nearly 75 per cent in farm fire incidents compared to the same period last year.

A total of 234 incidents were recorded this year, compared to 969 last year.