Chandigarh: Punjab recorded 1,612 stubble-burning incidents between September 15 and November 2, with Tarn Taran district alone accounting for 489 cases, according to official data released on Monday.

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Ferozepur reported 193 farm fires, while Amritsar recorded 192. Together, the three districts accounted for more than half of the incidents reported across the state.

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The figures mark a sharp rise in farm fires in recent days. Punjab had recorded 542 incidents between September 15 and October 23, but the cumulative count reached 1,612 by November 2.

The annual monitoring period for farm fires begins on September 15, around two weeks before paddy procurement starts on October 1. More than 90 per cent of the area under paddy cultivation in Tarn Taran and Amritsar has already been harvested.
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Fines imposed, FIRs registered

Authorities have imposed environmental compensation totalling ₹29.15 lakh in 573 cases of stubble burning. Of this amount, ₹19 lakh has been recovered, the data showed.

A total of 423 FIRs have also been registered in connection with stubble-burning incidents across Punjab. Tarn Taran accounts for 258 of these cases, followed by Ferozepur with 49 and Amritsar with 26.

The cases have been registered under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which deals with disobedience of orders duly promulgated by a public servant.

Despite the enforcement measures, farm fires continue to be reported across several districts as the paddy harvesting season progresses.

(With PTI inputs)