Chandigarh, Nov 6 (PTI) The number of farm fire incidents in Punjab between September 15 and November 5 this year has reached 2,787, with Tarn Taran recording 586 cases and Ferozepur 361, official data said on Friday.
On November 4, stubble burning cases stood at 2,347, the data showed. Till Thursday, there were 221 farm fire incidents in Amritsar, 216 in Bathinda, 240 in Sangrur and 156 in Patiala.
So far, the authorities have imposed fines totalling over Rs 46 lakh as environmental compensation in 914 cases of stubble burning, with over Rs 24 lakh already recovered. Officials registered 710 FIRs related to stubble burning incidents, including 294 in Tarn Taran under Section 223 (disobedience of orders promulgated by a public servant) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
The annual farm fire monitoring period begins on September 15, two weeks before paddy procurement starts on October 1.
Taking a serious view of the “very high” number of farm fires in Punjab, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on Wednesday met with senior bureaucrats and police officers from 12 districts to review steps to prevent stubble burning.
Rajesh Verma, the chairperson of CAQM in NCR and adjoining areas, presided over the meeting via video conferencing with the state’s secretary, environment; secretary, agriculture and deputy commissioners (DCs) and senior superintendents of police (SSPs) from 12 districts.
The commission directed that the monitoring and enforcement drive be intensified and that nodal officers be held accountable for failing to monitor and prevent farm fires. PTI SUN ASD
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