Punjab witnessed 133 fresh incidents of paddy-stubble burning on Monday, pushing the current season's total to 4,195 cases across the state's agricultural heartland.
District-wise Breakdown of Farm Fires
All 16 districts of Punjab reported farm fire incidents within the last 24 hours, with Tarn Taran recording the highest single-day count of 20 cases. The persistent problem of crop residue burning continues to plague the state despite ongoing control measures.
The cumulative figures for 2025 show significant improvement compared to previous years. This year's total of 4,195 cases remains substantially lower than the 6,611 incidents reported by November 10 in 2024, and dramatically below the 23,626 cases recorded during the same period in 2023.
Persistent Hotspots and Regional Distribution
While overall numbers have decreased, certain districts continue to be major concern areas. Sangrur leads with 662 total cases this season, closely followed by Tarn Taran with 619 incidents. Other significantly affected districts include Ferozepur (434), Amritsar (299), Bathinda (287), Moga (271), with Mansa and Muktsar both reporting 234 cases each.
The geographical spread of the problem is extensive, with 22 out of Punjab's 23 districts reporting one or more farm fire cases this season. Ropar remains the only district without any recorded incidents of stubble burning so far.
Broader Regional Impact and Air Quality Concerns
The stubble burning issue extends beyond Punjab's borders. According to data from the Consortium for Research on Agroecosystem Monitoring and Modeling from Space (CREAMS), six states recorded 850 cases of stubble burning on Monday alone, taking the national count to 10,366 incidents.
Madhya Pradesh reported the highest number with 422 events, followed by Uttar Pradesh (154), Punjab (133), Rajasthan (110), Haryana (30), and Delhi (1).
The environmental consequences are becoming increasingly evident across Punjab. Most major urban centers in the state are experiencing 'poor' or 'very poor' air quality categories, with Air Quality Index (AQI) readings consistently exceeding 150. Jalandhar is particularly affected, showing the highest average pollution levels in the region.
Enforcement Actions and Legal Measures
State authorities have intensified their response to the crisis. Punjab Police registered 97 additional FIRs related to stubble burning incidents on Monday, bringing the season's total to 1,447 cases.
The administration has also implemented 141 red entries against land records this year, taking the overall tally to 1,705. Furthermore, 68 show cause and warning notices were issued to nodal and supervisory officers, with the cumulative count reaching 781.
In a significant enforcement action, prosecution proceedings were initiated against 11 nodal and supervisory officers under section 14 of the CAQM Act, demonstrating the government's commitment to holding officials accountable for controlling farm fires.
