The Punjab Police has taken stringent action against farmers engaged in stubble burning, registering 932 FIRs from November 8 until Sunday. Despite repeated warnings from the state government and Supreme Court directives against causing air pollution through stubble burning, farmers continue to violate regulations, contributing to the alarming spike in pollution levels.
The Information and Public Relations Department of Punjab reported 740 and 637 farm fire cases on Sunday and Saturday, respectively, indicating a significant reduction in the last two days. Alongside the FIRs, the police imposed fines totaling Rs 1.67 crores in 7405 cases, reinforcing the commitment to enforcing penalties for environmental violations.
“Since November 8, police teams have registered 932 first information reports (FIRs), while penalties worth Rs 1.67 crores were imposed in 7405 cases,” stated the police officials. Additionally, red entries have been made in the revenue records of 340 farmers during this period.
Special Director General of Police Law and Order, Arpit Shukla, appointed as the Police Nodal Officer to monitor action against stubble burning, highlighted the substantial decline in farm fire cases. He credited the dedicated efforts of police personnel and civil administration officials working on the ground to combat stubble burning in the state.
To address the issue, the DGP Punjab has conducted daily meetings with senior officers, range officers, CPs/SSPs, and station house officers (SHOs). Show cause notices have been issued to SSPs of districts with a high number of stubble burning cases. Flying squads comprising police and civil officials, totaling 1072, have been vigilant in monitoring stubble burning. Furthermore, meetings between CPs/SSPs and Kisan leaders at the district level and DSPs with Kisan leaders at the block level have been conducted to raise awareness about Supreme Court orders, with 2189 such meetings held since November 8. The intensified efforts aim to curb the menace of stubble burning and address the environmental concerns associated with the practice.
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