1,007 Stubble Fires in Punjab: Full District-Wise Breakdown

Punjab continues to witness stubble burning incidents during the paddy harvest season. The Punjab Pollution Control Board has reported 1,007 cases up to October 29, with Tarn Taran leading the state by a wide margin.

Tarn Taran alone recorded 397 cases, nearly 39 per cent of the statewide figure. Amritsar followed with 171 cases and Firozpur with 104. The three districts combined account for 672 incidents.

The remaining districts reported varying numbers. Gurdaspur registered 72 cases and Kapurthala 63. Bathinda recorded 31, Fazilka 28, Jalandhar 22 and Faridkot 21. Patiala and Hoshiarpur reported 16 and 12 cases. Sangrur also logged 12, Fatehgarh Sahib 11 and Muktsar nine. Moga, Barnala and SAS Nagar each recorded seven. Ludhiana registered six, Malerkotla five, SBS Nagar three, Rupnagar two and Pathankot one. Mansa remained free of such incidents.

In Patiala, 14 sites were inspected against the 16 reported cases. Burning was confirmed at seven places. Environmental compensation of Rs 35,000 was levied in six cases, and Rs 20,000 has been recovered.

At the state level, officials have inspected 778 locations. Of these, 379 were confirmed as burning sites. PPF and nodal officers also detected burn traces in 26 fields.

A total of 349 cases have resulted in environmental compensation. The total amount imposed is Rs 17.50 lakh, and Rs 13.15 lakh has been collected.

The enforcement drive has also produced 246 FIRs and red entries against 297 fields in revenue records. Officials have issued 426 warnings and show-cause notices to nodal and supervisory officers.

The report additionally notes that no action has so far been taken under Section 14 of the CAQM Act, and no chargesheets or suspensions have been reported.