In a positive environmental development, Ludhiana district has recorded a substantial decline in stubble burning cases during the current paddy harvesting season, offering relief from the annual pollution crisis.
Significant Reduction in Farm Fires
According to data from the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB), stubble burning incidents in Ludhiana district have decreased by approximately 32.62% compared to the same period last year. The district recorded 219 fire incidents between September 15 and November 28 this year, significantly lower than the 325 incidents reported during the same timeframe in 2024.
The tehsil-wise breakdown reveals even more dramatic improvements in certain areas. Khanna tehsil achieved an impressive 73% reduction in stubble burning cases, while Samrala followed closely with over 60% fewer incidents. Ludhiana West tehsil also showed substantial progress with a 55% decline.
District Performance and Regional Variations
While Ludhiana's overall performance placed it at the 20th position among Punjab's 23 districts in terms of reduction percentage, the absolute decrease of 106 fewer fire incidents represents meaningful progress. The data highlights that Pathankot district achieved the most remarkable turnaround with a 100% reduction in stubble burning cases, followed by Fatehgarh Sahib (78.97%) and Faridkot (75.82%).
However, not all areas within Ludhiana district showed uniform improvement. Jagraon tehsil, traditionally a stubble burning hotspot, recorded only an 11% reduction - the lowest among all tehsils in the district. This indicates that certain regions require more targeted intervention and awareness campaigns.
Officials and Farmers Acknowledge Positive Change
Ludhiana's Chief Agriculture Officer Gurdeep Singh attributed the decline to increased awareness among farmers and better availability of stubble management machinery. "The agriculture department played a vital role in motivating farmers not to burn stubble," Singh stated, expressing optimism that "we expect stubble burning incidents to fall further next year."
Farmers on the ground echoed this positive sentiment. Hardeep Singh, a farmer from Jagraon, noted visible changes in farming practices. "There was a positive change on the ground as several farmers I knew hadn't burnt stubble this year," he said, adding that many farmers are now recognizing the harmful effects of stubble burning and the practice is likely to decrease further in coming years.
The reduction in stubble burning cases comes as welcome news for Punjab residents who have long suffered from severe air pollution during the harvest season, with the smoke from farm fires contributing significantly to the region's deteriorating air quality and health concerns.
