30% REDUCTION IN FARM FIRES, SAYS HAYER

STUBBLE TROUBLE

CHANDIGARH : Punjab environment minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer on Wednesday claimed that the campaign launched by the state government to prevent stubble burning during the paddy season received a huge response, and there has been a 30% reduction in fire cases this time as compared to last year.

Meet Hayer said, “The state government decided to go in for the in-situ and ex-situ management and a special campaign was started to honour the farmers who did not burn stubble. In 2021, 71,304 fire incidents were reported from September 15 to November 30 in the state, while 49,907 fire incidents occurred during the same period this year.”