Punjab: 21 farm fires in one day, total number reaches 119

Punjab: The state reported 21 farm fire incidents on Sunday, the highest in a single day this season so far. With this, the number of farm fire incidents in the state has gone up to 119. However, due to sporadic rains in the last two days and no farm fire incidents reported, the total number so far this season is less than the incidents recorded during the same period in the last two years. Amritsar reported 12 farm fire incidents on Sunday, while Ferozepur, Kapurthala and Tarn Taran reported three each. On September 21, the state had reported 21 cases, but it reduced significantly after that due to cloudy weather and rain. Farmer unions are against the state government for taking strict action against farmers burning stubble. They have made their stand clear on the issue and asked the government to avoid taking any “authoritarian action” in such cases. “Unless an economically viable solution is given, farmers have no option but to set crop residue on fire,” he said. “Many farmers have already stopped setting fire to fields and the number of such cases is coming down.

I understand that smoke from fields adds to air pollution, but pressuring farmers is completely wrong. This will push farmer unions and the government on a confrontational path,” said Joginder Singh Ugrahan, leader of the Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ekta-Ugrahan). “No farmer in Punjab will lose his arms licence or face any government action because of setting fire to fields. We will not let this happen,” warned an army veteran who heads one of Punjab’s largest farmers’ organisations. “Sending machinery does not help anyone as technology keeps changing every year. The government should facilitate alternative stubble disposal near villages,” he said. This season, paddy was sown in 32.5 lakh hectares. This is expected to generate 22.5 million tonnes of stubble. Though the state aims to utilise over 16 million tonnes of this, the government faces challenges in controlling stubble burning, which remains a significant source of air and soil pollution.

In 2013, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had banned paddy stubble burning, with fines ranging from Rs 2,500 to Rs 15,000 per incident, but compliance has been weak. Farmer unions claim that the short time between paddy harvesting and wheat sowing has left them with no option but to set fire to fields. “If we sow wheat without removing stubble, the rabi crop is infested with pests and weeds,” they said. However, the agriculture department insists that “low yield cannot be linked to in-situ management of crop residue”. Despite a 27 per cent reduction in farm fires in 2023 compared to 2022, the problem persists. Over 10,000 officials have been deployed to monitor the situation, with deputy commissioners leading efforts to curb stubble burning in every district. The state’s previous proposal to offer incentives to discourage stubble burning was rejected by the central government. With fires spiking in October and November, Punjab is often blamed for Delhi’s poor air quality.