No let-up in stubble burning, 16K cases in 10 days

A farmer burns stubble in a field on the outskirts of Jalandhar. Tribune photo

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, October 30

With paddy stubble burning cases increasing rapidly despite a ban, 23,177 fire incidents were reported till Thursday evening during this kharif season. Stubble burning cases are being reported in more numbers from the Malwa region as compared to other parts of the state now.

Around 7,105 cases were reported from September 21 to October 19 in the state. But from October 20 to October 29, 16,072 cases were reported.

Straw fires rage

23,177
fire incidents reported till Thursday
7,105 cases from Sept 21 to Oct 19
16,072 cases from Oct 20 to Oct 29

It seems the cases are likely to rise in the coming days despite the authorities claiming a strict vigil.

On October 29, a total of 1,541 cases were reported in the state. A maximum of 265 cases were reported from Sangrur, followed by Patiala (167), Ferozepur (156), Bathinda (127) and Mansa (102).

Notably, the number of stubble burning cases in the state so far is higher than those reported during the corresponding period in the past three years. The number was 19,869, 15,042 and 22,258 in this period in 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

Sudagar Singh Ghudani of the Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ugrahan) said successive governments had failed to provide bonus or financial aid to farmers for managing stubble. He said, “As per a new order, there is a provision of five-year jail or fine up to Rs 1 crore for burning stubble. Such orders are anti-farmer. No action is taken against those responsible for 92 per cent of pollution but strict laws are enacted against the farmers. Earlier, three anti-farmers laws were enacted.”

Krunesh Garg, Member Secretary, Punjab Pollution Control Board, said Rs 95.64 lakh penalty had been imposed against stubble burning at 3,541 sites. He said red entry had been imposed on 2,906 sites. Around 2,980 sites were being identified and action would be taken against these at the earliest, he said.

2 farmers booked

Muktsar: In the past 24 hours, the district police have booked two farmers, including a woman, for allegedly burning paddy stubble in their fields. The accused have been identified as Shivraj Singh of Fatuhikhera village and Jaspreet Kaur of Bhitiwala village. Two separate cases have been registered against the accused under Sections 188 and 278 of the IPC at the Lambi police station. TNS