Punjab administration cracks down on crop residue burning

The Punjab administration has intensified monitoring and enforcement against crop residue burning following the start of the paddy harvesting season. According to reports from the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) and state authorities, 40 incidents of stubble burning were recorded across the state via satellite and protocol monitoring as of September 26.

Amritsar reported the highest number with 21 cases, followed by Tarn Taran with 6 and Ferozepur with 5. Physical inspections of 28 fields confirmed burning in 12 locations. In response, authorities have imposed environmental compensation totaling 40,000 rupees across eight cases, with 10,000 rupees already recovered.

Legal actions include one case registered under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita in Patiala and 'red entries' in revenue records for five instances in Ferozepur and Tarn Taran. Additionally, four show-cause notices were issued to nodal and supervisory officers in Ferozepur for negligence of duty.