Though the variety of stubble-burning instances dropped by almost 72% this kharif season, the eight hotspot districts, recognized by the state authorities, contributed 62% of complete farm fires reported within the state so far.
Final 12 months, these districts recorded 23,410 instances of stubble burning, which was 64% of the overall 36,663 instances reported final Kharif season from September 15 to November 30. (ANI Photograph) (ANI File)
The districts together with — Sangrur, Ferozepur, Bathinda, Moga, Barnala, Mansa, Tarn Taran and Faridkot — recorded 4,104 farm fires out of a complete of 6,611 incidents of stubble burning reported in 23 districts throughout the state until Sunday.
Final 12 months, these districts recorded 23,410 instances of stubble burning, which was 64% of the overall 36,663 instances reported final Kharif season from September 15 to November 30.
As per accessible figures, Sangrur has reported a most of 1,272 instances of stubble burning this season adopted by Ferozepur 791, Tarn Taran 652, Mansa 424, Bathinda 357, Moga 270, Faridkot 227 and Barnala 111 instances.
Nevertheless, three different districts together with Amritsar, Patiala and Kapurthala, which weren’t categorised because the hotspot areas, reported a relatively excessive variety of instances this season. Whereas Amritsar has reported 643 instances adopted by Patiala 476 and Kapurthala 286.
Punjab Air pollution Management Board (PPCB) chairman Adarshpal Vig stated it’s a constructive signal that the instances of stubble burning in hotspot districts have drastically decreased as in comparison with final 12 months.
“The awareness campaigns and punitive measures adopted by the state government have both worked in limiting the farm fires in these areas, which were cause of concern before the start of paddy harvesting,” Vig stated.
He added that the deputy commissioners of those districts have gone all out to tab the instances of their respective jurisdictions.
“The farmers have responded positively to in-situ and ex-situ management of paddy stubble this year. The farmers should shun the practice of setting ablaze paddy leftovers gradually as they have started understanding that it causes pollution to a large extent and has serious health repercussions. Besides, the farmers are also making additional income by selling stubble bales,” Vig added.
Stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana is commonly blamed for the rise in air air pollution within the northern area together with Delhi after harvesting of the paddy crop in October and November.
Because the window for the rabi crop — wheat — could be very brief after paddy harvest, some farmers set their fields on hearth to rapidly clear off the crop residue for sowing of the following crop.
Punitive motion
In Sangrur, the state police have registered 336 FIRs in opposition to farmers beneath Part 223 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). An environmental compensation of ₹6.42 lakh was imposed in 233 instances and ₹2.87 lakh has been recovered.
In Ferozepur, 495 FIRs have been registered, whereas a high quality of ₹14.80 lakh was slapped in 480 instances, of which ₹9.5 lakh was recovered from the farmers. In Moga, the environmental compensation of ₹6.70 lakh was imposed in 207 instances, whereas 120 FIRs have been registered.
In the meantime, in Bathinda, 121 FIRs have been registered in opposition to the farmers and a compensation of ₹4.07 lakh was imposed in opposition to the farmers in 362 instances. In Barnala, 45 FIRs have been recorded, whereas a high quality of ₹1.37 lakh was slapped, of which ₹85,000 has been recovered.
As many as 509 FIRs have been registered within the Tarn Taran district up to now and environmental compensation of ₹8.47 lakh was slapped in 324 instances. The authorities have recovered ₹7.87 lakh from the farmers.
In Mansa and Faridkot districts, 45 and 50 FIRs have been registered in opposition to erring farmers, respectively. In Mansa, an environmental compensation of ₹6.47 lakh was slapped, of which ₹2.47 lakh was recovered, whereas in Faridkot, a high quality of ₹1.85 lakh was recovered out of complete ₹3.12 lakh EC imposed on the farmers.
Air high quality in poor class
Thick layers of smog continued to cowl elements of Punjab, leading to a dip in air high quality ranges.
Mandi Gobindgarh remained extremely polluted with an AQI degree of 262, adopted by Amritsar 253, Ludhiana 220, Patiala 206, and Jalandhar 201, all within the poor class. Khanna recorded the air high quality in a average class with an AQI of 158 and Bathinda with 192.
The scenario was no completely different in Haryana. In accordance with the Central Air pollution Management Board’s information, the AQI was 284 in Kaithal, 280 in Charkhi Dadari, 278 in Bahadurgarh, 270 in Panchkula, 240 in Gurugram, 231 in Yamunanagar, 221 in Kurukshetra, 202 in Sonepat, 198 in Bhiwani, 195 in Rohtak, 184 in Panipat and 148 in Ambala.
BOX
Districts No of instances (until Nov 10) FIRs Pink Entries EC imposed (instances) Fantastic Recovered
Sangrur 1,272 336 233 233 ₹6.42 lakh ₹2.87 lakh
Ferozepur 791 495 480 480 ₹14.80 lakh ₹9.50 lakh
Bathinda 357 121 127 141 ₹4.07 lakh ₹2 lakh
Moga 270 120 207 207 ₹6.70 lakh ₹6.70 lakh
Barnala 111 45 47 47 ₹1.37 lakh ₹0.85 lakh
Mansa 424 175 227 227 ₹6.75 lakh ₹2.47 lakh
Tarn Taran
652 509 334 324 ₹8.45 lakh ₹7.87 lakh
Faridkot 227 50 98 98 ₹3.12 lakh ₹1.85 lakh
Air high quality index
Mandi Gobindgarh 262,
Amritsar 253,
Ludhiana 220,
Patiala 206,
Jalandhar 201
Khanna 158
Bathinda 192