Sangrur reported the highest number of 163 cases, followed by Ferozepur 121, Bathinda 80, Muktsar 64 and Mansa 62. On the corresponding date last year, the state had recorded 2,003 incidents of farm fires.

Under the new rules, farmers with land less than two acres will be required to pay $5,000 for incidence of stubble burning, while those with two hectares or more but less than five hectares will be responsible for $10,000. Growers who have land of more than five hectares must pay an environmental compensation of $30,000 per incident. the fines were $2,500, 5,000 and $15,000 in three categories as per 2023 rules.

The Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) and the Punjab Remote Sensing Center (PRSC) start tracking agricultural fires from September 15 every year.

An official said that 30% to 32% of rice is still to be harvested and that farmers now have a very short period to sow wheat.

“This may cause an increase in cases of agricultural fires. The next 10 to 12 days will be crucial as far as agricultural fires are concerned,” said an official who requested anonymity.

Going by the stubble burning trends reported during the last phase of the harvesting season, up to 57% of the total cases were recorded between November 8 and 30 last year. Of the total 36,663 cases reported last year, 15,685 cases were recorded during this period alone. In 2022, 35% of total cases were reported during this period.

Meanwhile, state government data suggests that various agencies have taken punitive action, including FIRs, red entries in revenue records and hefty environmental compensations, in 73% of the total 6,029 cases till Friday.

According to the daily adopted action report (ATR) submitted to the PPCB, based on inspections of 4,394 active stubble burning sites by field teams, environmental compensation was imposed in 2,294 cases (38%) of the total cases with fines totaling to $60.17 lakh so far this season.

Meanwhile, as many as 2,282 (39%) red entries in farmers’ income records have been made for burning rice residue.

The data also reveals that the state police have registered FIRs in 45% (2,768) of the cases under section 223 (disobedience to an order duly promulgated by a public servant) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

“We had given strict instructions to field staff, including district heads, before the start of the paddy harvesting season to take punitive action against those involved in stubble burning. We ensure that cases of agricultural fires are closely monitored and immediate action is taken against those who burn crop residues,” added a senior official who did not want to be named.

It is worth mentioning that until November 7, 2023, the state government had imposed environmental compensation (penalty) only in 9% of cases.

According to last year’s ATR, of the total 19,463 cases reported until November 7, 2023, the state had imposed an environmental compensation of $51.70 lakh in 1,851 cases only. However, last year only 18 FIRs were registered till November 7, while no red entries were made.

It was only after the Supreme Court issued directions last year that the State cracked down heavily on farmers and started taking punitive measures after November 7.

In 2023, of the total 36,663 cases, FIRs were registered in 932 cases, while environmental compensations worth $1.67 crores were invested in 7,405 cases. Red entries in land records were made in 340 cases.

Rice stubble burning in Haryana, Punjab and neighboring areas is one of the major factors contributing to the deterioration of air quality index in the winter months in the northern region, including Delhi and NCR.