On Monday, Punjab recorded 1,251 new farm fire incidents, marking the highest number in a single day this season, according to data from the Punjab Remote Sensing Centre. This brings the total number of such cases in the state to 9,655.
On November 8, Punjab witnessed 730 farm fire cases, marking the highest number in a single day so far this season until Monday.
According to data, Muktsar district had the highest number of 247 cases of stubble burning on Monday, with Moga following closely behind at 149, Ferozepur at 130, Bathinda at 129, Fazilka at 94, and Faridkot at 88.
In 2022 and 2023, the state recorded 701 and 637 current firm fire cases on the same day, according to the information provided.
Between September 15 and November 18, Punjab experienced 9,655 instances of stubble burning, showing a decrease of approximately 71 percent in crop residue burnings compared to the previous year during the same period.
During the same period in 2022 and 2023, Punjab recorded 48,489 and 33,719 incidents of farm fires, respectively.
The increase in air pollution in Delhi-NCR is frequently linked to stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana following the paddy harvest in October-November.
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Because the window for planting the Rabi crop, which is wheat, is very narrow after harvesting paddy, some farmers opt to burn their fields to promptly remove crop residue and prepare for a new planting.
In 2023, Punjab saw a decrease of 26 percent in farm fire cases, totaling 36,663, compared to the previous year according to data.
