Crackdown on stubble burners intensifies as 13 FIRs registered, 56 cases lodged in first seven days
The state has reported 56 cases of crop residue burning since monitoring began on September 15, with eight cases reported alone in the last 24 hours, according to data from the Punjab Pollution Control Board.
PTC News Desk: Days after Supreme Court's strict order crackdown on stubble burners has intensified with 13 FIRs registered under section 223 of BNS (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) against the farmers.
The state has reported 56 cases of crop residue burning since monitoring began on September 15, with eight cases reported alone in the last 24 hours, according to data from the Punjab Pollution Control Board. Despite the state reeling under the devastating floods, more cases were recorded compared to the previous years.
Out of the total cases till September 21, 35 were reported from Amritsar district, seven from Patiala, five from Tarn Taran, two from Barnala and one each in Bathinda, Ferozepur, Jalandhar, SAS Nagar, Malerkotla and Sangrur.
Eleven of the 23 districts have reported at least at least one fam fire cases in the ongoing season.
The action came after the Supreme Court said on September 17 that strict punishment, including arrests, may have to be imposed to deter farmers from stubble burning. The court said that although farmers are important for the country, it does not justify allowing stubble burning to continue unchecked.
“Why don’t you think of some penalty provisions? If some people are behind bars, it will send the correct message,” the bench had told the counsel for the Punjab government. “Why don’t you think of some penalty provisions for the agriculturists?” the bench rebuked.