Punjab has recorded 717 incidents of stubble burning up to October 27, according to a district-wise report of the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) reported by news agency IANS on Wednesday. The total is up from the 510 incidents the board had reported up to October 22.

Source: IANS via Hi India

Officials inspected 664 of the reported locations and confirmed stubble burning at 313 sites, the report said. Monitoring and enforcement action is under way across the state during the paddy harvesting season, officials said.

Tarn Taran and Amritsar lead the tally

Tarn Taran district reported the most incidents at 318. Officials inspected 299 locations there and confirmed burning at 152 sites. Environmental compensation was imposed in 152 cases in the district, totalling Rs 7.80 lakh — yaani about seven lakh eighty thousand rupees — of which Rs 2.65 lakh has been recovered. The report said 64 FIRs were registered in Tarn Taran and red entries were made against 152 fields.

Amritsar recorded 154 incidents, with inspections at 150 locations and burning confirmed at 75 sites. Environmental compensation was imposed in 70 cases totalling Rs 3.35 lakh — yaani about three lakh thirty-five thousand rupees — of which Rs 2.85 lakh has been recovered. The district registered 24 FIRs, made 57 red entries and issued 186 warning notices, according to the report.

Source: The Freedom Press (IANS)

Other districts

Gurdaspur recorded 47 incidents, Kapurthala 46 and Ferozepur 42. Burning was confirmed at 17 locations in Gurdaspur, 15 in Kapurthala and 20 in Ferozepur, the report said.

Farmers have long said the short window between the paddy harvest and rabi sowing leaves them little time and few affordable alternatives to burning residue. The administration says field monitoring and enforcement will continue through the peak stubble-burning season, which typically runs into November.