Worst-hit Sangrur yet to register farm fire FIR

Parvesh Sharma

Tribune News Service

Sangrur, November 8

A thick blanket of smog covers many parts of the district as the stubble is being burnt unabated. Even though the district is the worst-hit with 7,628 cases of farm fires, district authorities have not registered even a single FIR against the guilty.

Worse, authorities have launched prosecution under Sections 39 of Air Act 1981 only in two cases across the district. As per the official data, of 7,628 fire incidents reported, teams of officers have visited 3,244 sites. To date, authorities have imposed environmental compensation of Rs 30.65 lakh in 1,218 cases.

“The process to launch prosecution in more cases is on,” said Sachin Singla, SDO, Punjab Pollution Control Board. But the absence of any FIR under Section 188 of the IPC against any farmer has exposed the laxity of officers. Fields adjacent to main roads have turned black due to stubble burning, but officers are still not able to muster courage to register FIRs against the guilty.

“We are willing to shun stubble burning, but without the government help, it’s impossible,” says Amrik Singh, district president, BKU (Ugrahan).

Since farmers have announced to gherao officers if anyone come to visit their burnt fields, officers told The Tribune that government should provide them security if it really wants to prevent more farm fires in coming days. When asked why there were no FIRs, Sangrur Deputy Commissioner Ramvir said: “I will look into the matter to ascertain the reasons behind the delay in registration of FIRs in stubble burning cases.”

Action taken so far

• 7,628 fire incidents reported so far in district
• 3,244 sites of stubble burning visited by officials
• Rs 30.65 lakh imposed as environmental penalty
• 1,218 defaulting farmers’ red entry in land records