Punjab has recorded 59 stubble-burning incidents between September 15 and 30, accounting for more than 51% of the 114 crop-residue burning cases reported across six states during the early harvesting season, according to data reported by the Times of India.
The cases have been recorded across 34 districts in the six states. Uttar Pradesh reported 32 incidents, Madhya Pradesh 17, Haryana three, Rajasthan two and Delhi one. Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) begins recording farm-fire cases from September 15 each year.
Within Punjab, Amritsar has reported the highest number of incidents at 35, taking the district into double digits and accounting for the largest share of the state’s total. Tarn Taran has recorded nine cases, followed by Ferozepur with five and Gurdaspur with three. Moga has reported two incidents, while Faridkot, Fazilka, Hoshiarpur, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar and Patiala have recorded one each.
Seven farm-fire cases were reported in Punjab on Wednesday. Authorities have initiated penal action in several cases. An FIR was registered in Patiala under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which relates to disobedience of an order duly promulgated by a public servant.
Environmental compensation of Rs 55,000 was imposed in 11 cases, while Rs 25,000 in fines was realised. Red entries were made in the land records of offenders in nine cases. The authorities also issued warnings or show-cause notices to four nodal and supervisory officers.
The enforcement action comes against the backdrop of a sharp year-on-year decline in Punjab’s farm-fire incidents in 2025. The state recorded 5,114 cases last year, compared with 10,909 in 2024. The latest figures cover only the first 16 days of the current recording period and represent an early-season count.
Under the draft rules cited in the report, farmland where stubble burning is detected can receive an adverse red entry in land-revenue records for 15 months. Such an entry can restrict the affected farmer from securing agricultural loans or selling the designated property during that period. The restriction can extend to 30 months if another fire is detected on the same land or if environmental compensation remains unpaid.
The compensation amount is linked to the affected area. Burning on less than two acres attracts compensation of Rs 5,000, while incidents involving two to five acres attract Rs 10,000. Burning on more than five acres carries compensation of Rs 30,000 under the cited provisions. The latest enforcement figures show that the response combines criminal proceedings, financial penalties, land-record action and departmental accountability for supervisory officials.
The reported distribution places Punjab well ahead of the other states in the early-season count. The next steps will depend on further monitoring by the PPCB and district authorities as harvesting activity continues and additional crop-residue burning cases are recorded.