Punjab has recorded 1,510 stubble burning incidents, and 1,228 FIRs have been filed against farmers.
As Delhi battles choking air quality due to smog, neighbouring Punjab has become a focal point in the heated debate over stubble burning. The farmers in Punjab have now announced protests on Saturday over penalties imposed due to stubble burning and delays in paddy procurement.
The agitation was confirmed by Sarwan Singh Pandher, a prominent farmer leader, who detailed blockades planned in Batala, Phagwara, Sangrur, and Moga, aimed at drawing attention to what they view as punitive government measures. Farmers are preparing to block major highways across key regions — Majha, Malwa, and Doaba.
Punjab has recorded 1,510 stubble burning incidents, far outstripping neighbouring states, with 1,668 farm fire cases overall. This year alone, 1,228 FIRs have been filed against farmers, with 496 “red entries” placed in their revenue records, jeopardising their access to bank loans.
Additionally, environmental fines totalling Rs. 13.25 lakh have been levied against violators, adding financial strain to farmers.
As Delhi Chief Minister Atishi attempts to shift the blame for Delhi’s pollution crisis towards Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, both Punjab and Haryana governments are stepping up enforcement. Punjab Police have mobilised efforts to contain farm fires, including ongoing investigations into 1,568 cases and coordination between police and local administration to deter stubble burning.
Special DGP Law and Order Arpit Shukla confirmed that extensive community outreach has involved 3,000 meetings across villages, urging farmers to consider alternatives.
In Haryana, which has documented 655 fires since mid-September, Agriculture Minister Shyam Singh Rana highlighted that 3,000 FIRs have been filed to curb stubble burning. He defended farmers, arguing that systemic pressures, rather than choice, often lead them to burn stubble, while stressing the importance of collaborative solutions over punitive measures.
Recently, the Haryana government suspended 24 officials over alleged negligence in managing stubble fires.
Meanwhile, farm unions affiliated with the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) have intensified their demands, announcing protests on October 26 across all major highways in Punjab. This wave of demonstrations also targets the sluggish pace of government procurement and concerns over the DAPA (Direct Account Payment) system, which has delayed payments for their crops.
While government data shows a gradual decline in farm fires from 2019 to 2023, Punjab’s farmers argue that enforcement alone won’t resolve the issue.
Meanwhile, Punjab BJP leader Harjit Singh Grewal said that clean air is a shared priority across political lines.
“It is wrong on the part of the AAP-led Punjab government to accuse the BJP for everything. We all have similar lungs, and we all need clean environment and the government and farmers must understand this,” Grewal said.
Article source: indiatoday.in
