PATIALA: Punjab has reported 415 incidents of farm fires between September 15 and October 21 this year, marking a sharp decline from 1,510 cases during the same period in 2024, according to data from the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB).
In 2023, the state had recorded 1,764 farm fire incidents in the corresponding period. Officials attribute this year’s steep drop to a delayed paddy harvest, caused by heavy rains until early October and flood-related crop damage in some areas. Enhanced field monitoring and awareness campaigns discouraging stubble burning have also contributed to the decline, they said.
As per PPCB data, Punjab has 31.72 lakh hectares under paddy cultivation this year, of which 32.84% had been harvested till October 21. Tarn Taran district leads with 67.95% of the crop harvested, followed by Amritsar at 70%. These two districts account for the bulk of stubble burning cases.
Harvest progress remains much slower in other areas — 8.10% in Barnala, 8% in Moga, and 17% in Sangrur. Among districts, Tarn Taran reported 136 farm fires, Amritsar 120, Ferozepur 41, Patiala 27, Gurdaspur 16, and Sangrur 14.
The number of farm fire incidents rose from 116 on October 11 to 415 over the next 12 days as harvesting gathered pace. With more farmers preparing their fields for wheat sowing, officials are monitoring whether the numbers rise further in the coming days.
So far, environmental fines worth ₹9.40 lakh have been imposed in 189 cases of stubble burning, with ₹6.25 lakh already recovered. Police have registered 170 FIRs — including 61 in Tarn Taran and 50 in Amritsar — under Section 223 (disobedience of orders promulgated by a public servant) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Punjab recorded 10,909 farm fires in 2024, down from 36,663 in 2023 — a 70% reduction. Previous years saw even higher figures: 49,922 in 2022, 71,304 in 2021, 76,590 in 2020, 55,210 in 2019, and 50,590 in 2018.
