For years, Punjab has grappled with the daunting issue of stubble fires, which not only resulted in the loss of valuable crop residue but also contributed significantly to the region’s alarming levels of air pollution.
The situation was particularly dire in a dozen hotspot districts of the state where stubble burning had become an ongoing challenge. It was recognized that by effectively controlling fires in these hotspots, the overall cases of stubble burning could be significantly reduced.
This year, a new approach was set in motion, with the government focusing on these critical hotspots to tackle stubble burning comprehensively and extend the impact to the rest of the state.
Records from the Punjab Pollution Control Board revealed that the highest number of fires occurred in districts like Sangrur, Bathinda, Ferozepur, Moga, Muktsar, Patiala, Tarn Taran, Mansa, Barnala, and Fazilka between 2020 and 2022. In the current year, the government’s concentrated efforts in these districts have led to a decrease in stubble fires up to November 1. To provide a perspective on the figures from September 15 to November 1 over the past four years, the recorded cases this year have witnessed a significant reduction. For instance, in Sangrur, there were 1,359 fires reported this year, compared to 2,044, 781, and 3,492 in 2022, 2021, and 2020, respectively. Tarn Taran recorded 1,167 fires this year, in contrast to 2,595, 2,371, and 3,893 in 2022, 2021, and 2020. Similarly, Firozpur had 1,009 cases this year, whereas there were 1,316, 1,225, and 3,884 in 2022, 2021, and 2020. Patiala registered 884 fires in the current year, down from 1,974, 1,153, and 3,166 in 2022, 2021, and 2020, respectively.
In the district of Mansa, there were 617 reported fires this year, compared to 522, 257, and 1,323 in 2022, 2021, and 2020, respectively. Similarly, in Moga, 321 fires were recorded this year, in contrast to 485, 633, and 1,141 in 2022, 2021, and 2020. Muktsar reported 132 fires this year, whereas there were 380, 638, and 1,536 in 2022, 2021, and 2020. Fazilka also had 81 fires this year, as opposed to 207 in the previous year.
