Punjab has recorded 4,657 stubble-burning incidents so far this season despite continued administrative action and monitoring, according to the latest report of the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB). The board said 1,442 FIRs have been registered and environmental compensation of Rs 7.28 crore imposed, of which Rs 3.36 crore has been recovered so far.

Source: IANS via HiIndia

According to the PPCB data, inspections have been conducted at 3,845 fields where fires were reported, and physical verification has confirmed evidence of stubble burning at 1,675 locations, as of November 9. The board said monitoring and field inspections are continuing to identify and verify cases of crop-residue burning across the state.

Tarn Taran still leads the district tally

A district-wise analysis in the PPCB report shows Tarn Taran has recorded the highest number of stubble-burning incidents in the state at 659, followed by Ferozepur with 621, Sangrur with 508, Bathinda with 412 and Patiala with 299. Ferozepur topped the list in FIR registrations with 365 cases, followed by Tarn Taran with 307. In Patiala district, 86 FIRs have been registered and environmental penalties of Rs 43.50 lakh imposed, of which Rs 15 lakh has been recovered.

Source: Madhyamam (IANS)

The report said harvesting has been completed across 93.70 per cent of the state's total paddy area of 32.87 lakh hectares, which means most of this season's crop residue has already been cleared from the fields as the burning season moves into its final phase.

News18, citing the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), also reported the same updated tally of 4,657 after 198 fresh incidents, with Tarn Taran, Ferozepur and Sangrur as the highest-count districts. The rising farm-fire count has again put Punjab's stubble burning at the centre of the wider debate over winter air quality in northern India. The PPCB is expected to keep updating the figures as inspections continue.