Alarming surge in farm fires: Punjab records 932 FIRs as agricultural burning escalates

Farm fires, a major contributor to Delhi-NCR's worsening air pollution, saw a concerning 14% increase on Sunday, reaching 740 cases, up from 637 on Saturday. Despite the Punjab government's red alert and intensified efforts to curb stubble burning, this spike in cases raises alarm.

Punjab Authorities act amid escalating cases

The Punjab Police, since November 8, has filed 932 FIRs related to farm fires, imposing penalties totaling ₹1.67 crore in 7,405 cases. The state government, deploying 1,072 flying squads consisting of police and civil officials, is striving to prevent stubble burning. However, these efforts face a setback as the number of cases on Sunday surpasses those reported during the same period in previous years.

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Challenges and legal actions

Special Director General of Police Arpit Shukla, overseeing stubble burning, noted red entries in the revenue records of 340 farmers. Despite the surge, Shukla highlights a "drastic reduction" in overall cases. Fazilka reported the highest cases (151), followed by Moga, Ferozepur, and others. Legal actions are being taken against offenders, yielding positive outcomes in curbing farm fires.

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The DGP Punjab conducts daily meetings with senior officers, issuing showcause notices to SSPs of high-incidence districts. Vigilance includes 1,072 flying squads and meetings with farmer leaders at district and block levels, aiming to raise awareness about Supreme Court directives on stubble burning. Despite challenges, ongoing initiatives demonstrate progress in mitigating the farm fire crisis.