Sharp increase in Stubble burning incidents; 512 cases recorded

October 24, 2025

According to the data of the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB), there has been a sharp increase in incidents of field fires in Punjab, with a total of 512 cases registered so far.

According to the data till October 23, Amritsar reported the highest number of field fires at 7, followed by 5 in Tarn Taran, 4 in Sangrur, three each in Ferozepur and Mansa, 2 in Gurdaspur and Moga, and one each in Kapurthala and Patiala, as many farmers continue to ignore government appeals to stop burning crop residues.

Let us tell you that after the paddy harvest in October and November, there is very little time for sowing the rabi crop, wheat, due to which some farmers resort to burning crop residues to clean their fields quickly. According to Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) data, ₹11.45 lakh has been imposed as environmental compensation in 226 such cases, out of which ₹7.40 lakh has been recovered so far.

The data further revealed that during this period, 184 FIRs have been registered under Section 223 (disobedience to order issued by public servant) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) – including 61 in Tarn Taran and 53 in Amritsar – in connection with incidents of stubble burning.

The state authorities have also marked 187 red entries in the land records of farmers who burnt crop residue, most of which are in Tarn Taran and Amritsar. The red entry prevents farmers from taking loans against their agricultural land or selling it.