Punjab has seen a 68% decrease in farm fires due to a crackdown on paddy stubble burning by police and civil administration, with 639 fires reported on November 9, 2023. This is a sharp decline from the 2,003 fires reported on November 8, 2023.
The crackdown follows a Supreme Court rap on the state government to take immediate steps to stop crop residue burning. The court has made local station house officers (SHOs) responsible for stopping farm fires under the overall supervision of the chief secretary.
As part of the crackdown, police and civil administration officials have been visiting villages and farms to educate farmers about the harmful effects of stubble burning and to encourage them to use alternative methods of disposing of crop residue. The government has also provided financial assistance to farmers to purchase farm equipment that can be used to manage crop residue without burning it.
The crackdown has had a positive impact, with the number of farm fires declining significantly in recent days. However, it is important to note that the stubble burning season is still ongoing and it is possible that the number of fires could increase again in the coming weeks.
The Punjab government has said that it is committed to reducing farm fires and that it will continue to work with farmers to find sustainable solutions to the problem.
