Punjab recorded 484 stubble burning incidents from September 15 to October 22, marking a sharp increase of 296 from the 188 cases recorded till October 16, Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) data showed.

As per the data, Tarn Taran witnessed the highest number of farm fires at 154, followed by Amritsar at 126, Ferozepur 55, Patiala 31 and Gurdaspur 23, as many farmers continue to ignore government appeals to stop crop residue burning.

Stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana is often blamed for the rise in air pollution in Delhi-NCR.

As the window for the Rabi crop, wheat, is very short after paddy harvest in October and November, some farmers set their fields on fire to quickly clear off the crop residue.

Fines amounting to Rs 11.45 lakh have been imposed as environmental compensation

See Full Page