Punjab Records Highest Single-Day Spike in Farm Fires
Punjab recorded 1,152 farm fires on November 8, driving a 35% increase in seasonal totals as farmers rush to meet wheat-sowing deadlines.
The Punjab Pollution Control Board reported 1,152 farm fires on November 8, the highest single-day spike of the current stubble-burning season. This surge increased the cumulative seasonal total from 3,307 to 4,459 incidents, a rise of approximately 35%. The spike occurred as farmers rushed to clear fields before the November 15 wheat-sowing deadline recommended by Punjab Agricultural University.
Tarn Taran recorded the highest seasonal tally with 654 fires, followed by Ferozepur and Sangrur. Authorities inspected 2,998 sites and confirmed burning at 1,310 locations. Enforcement actions included 884 FIRs, 1,017 red entries in land records, and ₹62.55 lakh in environmental compensation levies, with ₹32.60 lakh recovered. Additionally, 1,103 show-cause notices were issued to monitoring officials, and 18 supervisory officers face prosecution under the Commission for Air Quality Management Act.
The increase in fires coincided with hazardous air quality in Delhi, where several stations recorded severe AQI levels on November 9. While the Central Pollution Control Board provided the monitoring data, Delhi Aam Aadmi Party chief Saurabh Bhardwaj alleged that the government manipulated air quality monitoring stations.
