Punjab records three times more cases of wheat stubble burning

Jalandhar: 152 cases of wheat stubble burning have been recorded in Punjab till now in April. The highest number of cases were reported from Patiala and Moga with 20 cases each. For the period between April 1 to April 20, this is three times more than the last year, and 11 times more than 2020.

This season, only Fatehgarh Sahib district out of all the 23 districts in the state did not report a single fire incident. 152 fire incidents were reported this season out of which 56 were reported on a single day, April 20, the data has been sourced from the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB). The fire incidents are recorded by the PPCB through Punjab Remote Sensing Centre (PRSC), Ludhiana. Only 47 fire incidents were reported in 2021 during this 20-day period, and in 2020, only 13 cases were reported till April 20, reported The Indian Express.

On Wednesday, Moga reported 16 fire incidents, Patiala reported 11 and Sangrur district reported 10 cases. Sangrur reported 18 cases of stubble burning till April 20.

Ferozepur reported 11 fire incidents, Ludhiana and Fazilka reported nine cases each, Jalandhar reported eight cases. Hoshiarpur and Mansa reported seven cases each, followed by six cases each in Amritsar, Bathinda and Nawanshahr. Four cases each were reported from Kapurthala and Faridkot, while three cases each were reported in Tarn Taran and Barnala. Two cases each were reported from Mukatsar Sahib and Pathankot. And, Malerkotla, Mohali and Ropar reported one case each. All these cases were reported till April 20.

Most farmers are using wheat stubble to make fodder told the officials of the Punjab Agriculture Department. This fodder is very good for cattle. After making the fodder, they are setting the leftover, that is the roots on fire. However, the officials added that the farmers should avoid settings even the roots on fire as it causes pollution.