Bathinda: Punjab recorded 447 crop residue burning cases on Monday, the highest daily count among the five tracked states. The state has reported 2,998 cases, over 91 percent of its total 3,267 farm fires, in just the last eight days.
District-wise Breakdown
Sangrur remained the worst-affected district with a maximum of 418 cases till Monday, followed by 407 in Ferozepur, 310 in Bathinda, 288 in Tarn Taran, 237 in Fazilka, 230 in Muktsar, 222 in Mansa, 170 in Barnala, 143 in Patiala, 129 in Faridkot, 121 in Hoshiarpur and 107 in Moga.
Seasonal Leaders
Madhya Pradesh, however, remains the seasonal leader. Out of 53,395 total cases this wheat harvesting season, MP accounts for over 63 percent, which amounts to 33,749 cases. Data from the Consortium for Research on Agroecosystem Monitoring and Modeling from Space, which records stubble burning cases across the country twice a year after paddy and wheat harvesting, shows that from 2022 to May 4, 2026, MP contributed nearly 51 percent of all cases nationwide.
Legal and Penalty Actions
The Punjab Pollution Control Board action taken report dashboard shows that 71 FIRs have been filed under section 223 BNS (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) registered in Punjab till Sunday evening. At the same time, 158 red entries have been marked in land records, including 45 in a single day. A total of Rs 10.85 lakh environmental compensation has been imposed in 211 cases in the state, out of which Rs 15,000 had been realised.
