New Delhi: Punjab has reported 198 fresh stubble-burning incidents, taking the total number of officially recorded farm fires this season to 4,657 and raising fresh concerns over worsening air pollution across northern India.
The latest figures have intensified the political confrontation between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), with Delhi’s deteriorating air quality once again bringing the issue of agricultural residue burning into focus.
According to the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), Tarn Taran has recorded the highest number of stubble-burning incidents this season, with 659 cases. Ferozepur follows with 621 incidents, while Sangrur has reported 508 cases.
The fresh incidents add to the growing challenge of controlling agricultural fires in Punjab, particularly as pollution levels continue to remain a major concern in Delhi and neighbouring regions.
Stubble burning, commonly practised by farmers to clear fields after harvesting paddy, releases smoke and harmful particulate matter into the atmosphere. The resulting pollution can contribute to deteriorating air quality across the National Capital Region, depending on weather conditions and wind patterns.
The latest increase has also reignited political exchanges between the BJP and AAP over responsibility for controlling farm fires and addressing the wider air pollution crisis.
With the seasonal tally approaching 4,700 incidents, effective enforcement, alternative crop residue management methods and long-term solutions for farmers remain crucial to tackling the recurring problem.
