Chandigarh, Nov 2 The number of farm fires in Punjab climbed to 1,612 on Monday, with Tarn Taran district alone accounting for 489 incidents, official data showed.
Amritsar reported 192 farm fires and Ferozepur 193, the data stated.
According to the data, Punjab recorded a total of 1,612 farm fires between September 15 and November 2 and 542 between September 15 and October 23 — a threefold jump in the last 10 days.
The annual farm fire monitoring period begins on September 15, two weeks before paddy procurement starts on October 1.
More than 90 per cent of the total area under paddy cultivation in Tarn Taran and Amritsar has already been harvested.
So far, fines totalling over Rs 29 lakh have been imposed as environmental compensation in 573 cases of stubble burning, with Rs 19 lakh already recovered, the data showed.
Additionally, 423 FIRs have been registered related to stubble burning incidents, including 258 in Tarn Taran, 49 in Ferozepur and 26 in Amritsar. These cases have been registered under Section 223 (disobedience of orders promulgated by a public servant) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
(PTI News)
