Chandigarh: More than 400 stubble-burning cases were reported in Punjab on Sunday, taking the total number of such cases in the state to 8,404 this season, according to remote sensing data. The Punjab Remote Sensing Center reported 404 new incidents of stubble burning, with 74 reported in Ferozepur, the highest in the state, followed by 70 in Bathinda, 56 in Muktsar, 45 in Moga and There are 30 in Faridkot.
On the same day in 2022 and 2023, the state reported 966 and 1,150 active farm fire incidents, respectively, the data show. From September 15 to November 17, 8,404 incidents of stubble burning were reported in Punjab, registering a 75 percent reduction in crop residue burning compared to the same period last year.
The state has reported 47,788 and 33,082 stubble burning cases during the same period in 2022 and 2023 respectively. Stubble burning after paddy harvest in October and November in Punjab and Haryana is often blamed for the increase in air pollution in Delhi.
Since the window for harvesting rubber after the paddy harvest is too short for wheat, some farmers set fire to their fields to quickly clear crop residues and plant the next crop. The state recorded 49,922 fire incidents in 2022, 71,304 in 2021, 76,590 in 2020, 55,210 in 2019 and 50,590 in 2018.