• Source:JND
Add as a preferred

Punjab reported a total of 110 stubble burning cases on Wednesday, taking the total tally to 2,466 for the season so far. There was a marginal decline in the cases of stubble burning till October 25 as less than 100 cases were lodged, but the story has changed since then as more than 100 cases are registered on a daily basis. Total 108 burning cases were recorded on October 26, 138 on October 27, 142 on October 28, and 219 on October 29.

Administration warned the farmers of severe actions as 219 cases of stubble burning were lodged on Tuesday. The cases are not declining even after several warnings from the Supreme Court and the government. Total 1,473 FIRs have been registered under Section 223 of BNS, and environmental compensation of Rs 20.25 lakh has been imposed in 754 cases.

ALSO READ: Burning Reality: Why Farmers Are Not The Real Villains In Delhi's Air Crisis; About The Overlooked Factors

Earlier, the Center's Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) had empowered district magistrates to take legal action against the officials failing to enforce restrictions on stubble burning. Deputy Commissioner of Gurdaspur Uma Shankar Gupta on Wednesday ordered a probe against SHO Gagandeep Singh and Sukhvinder Singh, nodal officers Daljit Singh and Jaspal Singh, and Junior Engineer Sunil Kumar for allegedly neglecting the cases of stubble burning in their jurisdictions. 

ALSO READ: Delhi Air Pollution: Haryana Govt Suspends 24 Employees From Agriculture Dept After Reprimand From SC Over Stubble Burning

Punjab Pollution Control Board chairman Adarsh Pal Vig said that farmers are being provided machinery for disposal of stubble. He further clarified that strong action will be taken if any farmer is found burning the stubbles. Earlier, farmers in several districts of Punjab protested against the state and central government for allegedly imposing harsh punishments. They claimed that stubble burning had a very little role to play in the pollution of Delhi. They warned of a massive protest if the cases against the farmers were not taken back.