CHANDIGARH – Amid a severe spike in farm fires, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on Friday issued stringent directives to Punjab officials, instructing them to implement a triple action plan against farmers involved in stubble burning. The comprehensive action includes the simultaneous registration of an FIR, imposition of a fine, and making “red entries” in the land revenue records of the violators.
The central body, responsible for monitoring air quality in Delhi-NCR, enforced the strict measure as the official count of farm fires in the state reached the 1,642-mark by Friday. Stubble burning cases have been consistently high, crossing the 200-mark for the third consecutive day (283 on Oct 29, 202 on Thursday, and 224 on Friday).
Focus on Hotspot Districts: The directions were issued during a high-level review meeting at Kisan Bhawan. Gurnam Singh, head of the paddy stubble management cell of the CAQM, highlighted that the primary focus would be on districts showing a sudden surge in farm fires, including Sangrur, Bathinda, Tarn Taran, and Mansa.
Officials were instructed to intensify the deployment of stubble management machinery and ensure that enforcement teams, consisting of police and pollution control officials, conduct joint field visits. This measure aims to effectively implement the triple action plan while simultaneously averting potential law and order issues.
Dodging Satellite Detection: The CAQM revealed that the triple action plan was devised after satellite data indicated that many fires were being deliberately lit late in the evening to dodge detection. Dr. Vinay Sehgal, Principal Scientist at IARI, explained that satellites like VIIRS and MODIS aqua capture images between 3:30 pm and 7:30 pm, and farmers are setting fires during this time window to escape immediate surveillance. He confirmed, however, that authorities now map the burnt area even after the fire is extinguished to ensure action is taken against violators.
Currently, 87 percent of the total farm fire cases—1,434—were reported in the past 13 days, with Tarn Taran (374), Sangrur (281), and Amritsar (197) accounting for the bulk of the cumulative cases.