Overview
- Punjab reported 45 new stubble-burning cases on Oct 20, taking the season’s tally to 353, according to the Punjab Pollution Control Board.
- Tarn Taran has logged 125 incidents and Amritsar 124, with harvesting at 31.58% of the paddy area and officials expecting numbers to climb as the Malwa belt advances.
- Authorities have registered 149 FIRs under Section 223, made 152 red entries in land records, and imposed Rs 8.05 lakh in environmental compensation across 162 cases, recovering Rs 5.65 lakh.
- The cumulative count is about 75% lower than the same point last year (353 versus 1,445 in 2024), though officials note farm-fire detections typically rise as cutting accelerates.
- Experts highlight cross-border smoke from Pakistan’s Punjab, citing 2,009 fires there versus 189 in Indian Punjab between Oct 9–18, and weekend monitoring showed Mandi Gobindgarh’s AQI at 238.