To effectively curb stubble burning in Punjab, the state police, in collaboration with the Civil Administration, has launched an extensive awareness and enforcement campaign aimed at educating farmers about the detrimental effects of burning crop residue. The initiative comes as part of a concerted effort to comply with directives from the Supreme Court and the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to eradicate stubble burning completely. The campaign has already seen significant results, with 874 FIRs registered and penalties amounting to Rs 10.55 lakhs imposed on violators.   The states Special Director General of Police (Spl DGP), Law and Order, Arpit Shukla outlined the ongoing efforts during a recent meeting attended by key officials. He emphasized that the Punjab Police is not solely focused on punitive actions but is equally committed to raising awareness among farmers about the adverse environmental impacts of stubble burning.   In a proactive approach, Deputy Commissioners (DCs) and Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs) have undertaken joint inspections in villages identified as hotspots for stubble burning. Over the past few days, they have conducted 522 joint tours alongside 981 inspections by Sub-Divisional Magistrates (SDMs) and Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs), resulting in 2,504 public awareness meetings and 2,457 discussions with farmer unions.   In total, satellite technology has identified 1,393 instances of farm fires across the State till date. Following this, police teams have been deployed to inspect these locations, leading to the registration of FIRs in 874 cases. While no stubble burning incidents were found at 471 sites, daily diary report (DDR) entries were recorded in those instances. The legal ramifications have been substantial, with penalties imposed on 397 cases and red entries made in the revenue records of 394 farmers, marking a significant step in holding offenders accountable.   Shukla has urged the farmers to collaborate with authorities in this initiative, highlighting the health risks posed by stubble burning to vulnerable populations, including children and the elderly. He reiterated that the consequences of continuing this practice extend beyond environmental damage to public health and safety.   In response to the rising instances of stubble burning, the Punjab Police have also deployed additional patrolling units and flying squads to monitor the situation and deter potential violators effectively. The comprehensive strategy combines education, legal action, and community engagement to ensure that the state can make significant progress towards eliminating stubble burning and protecting the environment.   Punjab Under Dock Over Stubble Burning   Punjab finds itself under intense scrutiny as the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Monday demanded accountability from the State Government regarding the persistent issue of paddy stubble burning. NGT, led by Justice Prakash Shrivastava, ordered Punjab to submit an affidavit detailing the actions taken to combat stubble burning by October 25. The directive comes amid ongoing Supreme Court hearings concerning the failures of Punjab and Haryana to implement effective measures to control this environmental crisis.   Stubble burning, a significant contributor to air pollution, especially in the National Capital Region (NCR), has raised alarm bells as air quality continues to deteriorate. The NGT pointed out that despite various initiatives, there has been little improvement in air quality, questioning why the state had not shown tangible results. The situation is particularly dire as Delhis air quality has recently plummeted into the very poor category, with predictions of continued pollution due to unfavorable weather conditions.   While Punjabs counsel Rahul Mehra highlighted a declining trend in stubble burning incidents over the past two years — 2,721 cases in 2022 and 1,618 in 2023, with 1,445 reported so far this year — the NGT Bench remained unconvinced. They emphasized that plans and meetings are ineffective without concrete action on the ground.   Justice Shrivastava urged the Punjab Government to lead by example and take decisive measures to mitigate pollution.

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