The state saw its largest single-day increase in stubble-burning incidents this season, bringing the total count to 4,459.
Punjab recorded 1,152 paddy stubble-burning incidents on November 8, marking the highest single-day increase of the current season, according to reports from Mathrubhumi, India Today, and Hindustan Times.
This surge increased the state's cumulative total from 3,307 on November 7 to 4,459 by Sunday. The spike occurred as approximately 91 per cent of the paddy area has already been harvested.
Tarn Taran reported the highest seasonal total of 654 fires. Sangrur saw the most incidents on Sunday with 194 new fires, bringing its seasonal tally to 488. Other districts with high Sunday counts included Ferozepur with 157, Bathinda with 132, Patiala with 92, Barnala with 91, and Ludhiana with 71.
Enforcement agencies have registered 884 FIRs under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and marked 1,017 red entries in land revenue records. Environmental compensation exceeding Rs 62 lakh has been imposed in 1,228 cases, though authorities have recovered Rs 32.60 lakh.
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) recently reviewed prevention steps with officials from 12 districts. The CAQM directed that monitoring be intensified and held nodal officers accountable for failures to prevent the fires.
