Authorities in Punjab's Tarn Taran district have intensified their crackdown on stubble burning, registering 240 FIRs against farmers and imposing financial penalties of approximately Rs 12 lakh this season.
The administration has also marked 240 fields with red entries in land revenue records as part of its enforcement drive. Despite repeated appeals and monitoring measures, incidents of crop residue burning continue to be reported across the district.
District Agriculture Officer Tejbir Singh Bhangu said satellite surveillance had identified 400 suspected stubble-burning locations. Agriculture department teams subsequently visited the flagged sites to verify the reports.
Of the 400 locations identified through satellite monitoring, stubble burning was not confirmed at 245 sites. The remaining 215 locations were found to have evidence of burning.
Farmers Face FIRs and Financial Penalties
Bhangu said action was being taken against farmers whose fields were found to have been set on fire.
Police have registered 240 FIRs so far, while the administration has imposed penalties amounting to around Rs 12 lakh.
The revenue department has also recorded red entries against 240 fields where stubble burning was reported. These entries will affect the revenue records of the concerned landowners.
The enforcement measures form part of the district administration's efforts to discourage crop residue burning and reduce its environmental impact.
Awareness Campaign Targets Farmers in Villages
Alongside enforcement, the administration has launched an awareness campaign to encourage farmers to adopt alternative methods of managing agricultural residue.
According to Bhangu, special teams have been formed to visit villages and explain the harmful consequences of stubble burning. They are also informing farmers about available crop residue management practices that can help avoid setting fields on fire.
The agriculture department has appealed to farmers to adopt sustainable alternatives instead of burning leftover crop residue after harvesting.
Satellite Monitoring and Village Outreach Continue
The district's strategy combines satellite-based identification of suspected burning locations with physical verification and action against confirmed violations.
Officials are continuing surveillance while village-level teams work to educate farmers about alternative practices.
The administration's challenge remains twofold: enforcing restrictions against stubble burning while encouraging farmers to shift towards effective crop residue management methods.
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