30 september 2024 : The Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) has identified 16 districts and 663 villages in the state as hotspots for stubble burning. The districts include Barnala, Bathinda, Faridkot, Fatehgarh Sahib, Fazilka, Ferozepur, Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Ludhiana, Mansa, Moga, Muktsar, Patiala, Sangrur, and Tarn Taran.
Last year, these villages accounted for 23,410 instances of stubble burning, representing 64% of the total 36,663 cases reported between September 15 and November 30.
However, the state has seen nearly a 30% reduction in stubble burning incidents in 2023 compared to 2022, which recorded 49,992 cases. In 2021, there were 71,159 cases, and in 2020, the number reached 76,929.
PPCB Chairman Adarshpal Vig stated that while awareness is a priority, authorities are also taking necessary punitive actions. The board has already provided the list of hotspot villages and districts to their respective Deputy Commissioners.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann is convening a meeting with all relevant officials to discuss the stubble management plan.
Additionally, a team from the Commission of Air Quality Management (CAQM) will establish a base in Chandigarh for two months to monitor the situation on the ground. A PPCB official confirmed that the CAQM team will arrive on October 1 and remain in Chandigarh until November 30.
As of Sunday evening, the state has reported 119 cases of stubble burning, with Amritsar leading with 71 incidents.
