Intensive anti-stubble burning campaign leads to steep decline in fire incidents across the state

Following a vigorous and sustainable campaign launched by the Punjab Government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, the incidents of stubble burning has witnessed a steep decline thereby causing less pollution in the state as compared to the last year.

Disclosing this here today, Science Technology and Environment Minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer said that the data from Punjab Remote Sensing Centre (PRSC) depicts that 1847 cases of stubble burning were reported across the state from September 15 to October 17, 2022 as compared to 2389 and 5562 cases in corresponding period during the year 2021 & 2020.

He said that many districts the incidents of stubble burning have been negligible adding that so far Rupnagar and Pathankot districts have reported zero incidents of stubble burning. Similarly, he said that SBS Nagar and Hoshiarpur reported two incidents each followed by Sri Muktsar Sahib and Bathinda which have reported three cases of paddy straw burning. Meanwhile, Mansa, Barnala, Faridkot and SAS Nagar districts have reported up to 10 cases so far.

Mr. Hayer pointed out that this marked improvement was mainly attributed to the positive response of the farmers to the anti-stubble campaign launched by the Punjab government coupled with environmental friendly initiatives taken by the state Government to check the menace of stubble burning. He said that the Punjab Government has provided more than 90422 machines for stubble management on a huge subsidy and this year, 31000 additional machines are also being provided to farmers.

He further revealed that due to less fire incidents, the Air Quality Index Value of Punjab is better in terms of the corresponding period of last year. The AQI of Punjab is 127 against 132 in the corresponding period last year. Pertinently, an AQI between 0 and 50 is considered good, between 51 and 100 is satisfactory, between 101 and 200 is moderate, between 201 and 300 is poor, between 301 to 400 is very poor and between 401 to 500 is severe.