70% dip in stubble fire cases likely this season: Pannu

CHANDIGARH: Punjab is expecting not more than 12,000 stubble burning incidents this season, a reduction of about 70% compared to last year, on the back of a "vigorous" awareness drive and distribution of crop residue management machinery, state agriculture secretary KS Pannu said on Thursday.

Stubble burning in Punjab and neighbouring Haryana is a major cause of air pollution not only in the two states but also in the national capital. In 2016, Punjab witnessed 80,879 stubble burning incidents, which came down to 43,814 in 2017, official data shows.

According to data, Amritsar has reported 412 stubble burning incidents so far this year, the state’s highest. It is followed by Tarn Taran with 225 incidents and Patiala with 159 incidents. Satellite images of farm fires are being captured by Ludhianabased Punjab Remote Sensing Centre (PRSC).

The state has also launched a massive awareness drive for farmers to check the stubble burning incidents. As many as 8,000 nodal officers have been appointed to spread awareness about the ill-effects of stubble burning in paddy growing villages. The state has set a target to deliver 24,972 farm equipment.