Chandigarh, November 8: Punjab has recorded 3,307 incidents of stubble burning across the state through 7 November, according to a report by the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB), IANS reported on Sunday. The season tally stood at 3,144 through 6 November, so the count rose by more than 160 in a day even as Delhi-NCR grapples with sharply deteriorating air quality.
Source: IANS via Nation Press, reporting the PPCB report
Awaaz Punjab reported the previous PPCB tally a day earlier, when the season total reached 3,144 with Tarn Taran at 611. Read: Punjab stubble burning crosses 3,000, season total reaches 3,144
Of the 3,307 incidents reported, authorities physically inspected 2,903 sites and confirmed crop-residue burning at 1,275 locations, the PPCB report said. Environmental compensation totalling Rs 60.60 lakh has been imposed, of which Rs 32.50 lakh has been recovered so far.
Source: IANS via Nation Press / HiIndia
Alongside the fines, 870 FIRs have been registered, 'red entries' — adverse notations on land records — have been made in 1,004 cases, and 1,102 warning notices have been issued across the state, according to the report. A separate report chain, with Jugti citing PTI data for the earlier stage and a Tribune update for the new total, also puts the season tally at 3,307.
Source: Jugti, citing PTI and The Tribune
Tarn Taran still leads the districts
District-wise, Tarn Taran recorded the highest number of incidents at 623, followed by Ferozepur with 435, Sangrur with 294, Bathinda with 274 and Amritsar with 235, according to the PPCB report. The spread shows the burning is not confined to one zone but runs across Punjab's paddy belt.
Source: IANS via Nation Press, reporting the PPCB report
Patiala: 196 incidents, 77 FIRs
In Patiala district, 196 incidents were recorded; 157 sites were inspected and burning was confirmed at 94 locations. Fines of Rs 3.45 lakh were levied there, of which Rs 1.25 lakh has been collected, with 77 FIRs registered, 185 warning notices issued and 33 red entries made, the report said.
Source: IANS via Nation Press, reporting the PPCB report
Why it matters beyond Punjab
Post-harvest residue fires in Punjab are a widely documented contributor to the seasonal air-quality crisis in Delhi-NCR in October and November. The capital's air was already in the severe band this Diwali weekend, and each new day of farm fires adds to the load while harvesting is still under way in parts of the state.
Delhi's air quality index touched 483 in the severe category on Diwali, the capital's worst reading of the season so far. Read: Delhi AQI hits 483, severe on Diwali