Punjab Witnesses Over 400 Fresh Farm Fires, Season's Total at 8,404

Chandigarh: Punjab reported more than 400 fresh farm fires on Sunday, taking count of such cases in state this season to 8,404, according to remote sensing data.

Punjab Remote Sensing Centre put number of new stubble-burning incidents at 404, with Ferozepur accounting for 74 cases, highest in state, followed by Bathinda with 70, Muktsar with 56, Moga with 45 and Faridkot with 30.

On same day in 2022 and 2023, state reported 966 and 1,150 active farm fire events respectively, data showed.

From September 15 to November 17, Punjab has seen 8,404 stubble-burning incidents, registering a 75 per cent dip in crop residue burnings over corresponding period last year.

state saw 47,788 and 33,082 farm fires during same period in 2022 and 2023, respectively.

Stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana after harvesting pdy crop in October and November is often blamed for rise in air pollution in Delhi.

As window for Rabi crop wheat is very short after pdy harvest, some farmers set ir fields on fire to quickly clear crop residue and sow next crop.

state recorded 49,922 fire events in 2022, 71,304 in 2021, 76,590 in 2020, 55,210 in 2019 and 50,590 in 2018. 

With PTI Inputs