Archive · 28 Oct 2025
Punjab Farm Fires Jump to 890, Season's Highest Single-Day Spike Recorded
Farmers in Punjab have been burning leftover crop stalks, called stubble, after harvesting their rice.
On a recent Monday, there was a big increase in this burning, with 147 fires reported in just one day, making the total for the season 890.
This is a problem because it can cause air pollution in nearby areas.
The most fires happened in the Tarn Taran and Amritsar areas.
Some farmers keep burning the stubble even though the government has asked them to stop.
The government is trying to prevent this by giving fines, filing police reports, and marking farmers' land records.
Farmers burn the stubble because they need to plant their next crop, wheat, very quickly after harvesting the rice.
Punjab recorded a season's highest single-day spike of 147 farm fires on Monday, bringing the total since September 15 to 890.
Tarn Taran and Amritsar districts reported the highest number of farm fires.
There has been a significant increase in farm fires, with 537 more incidents reported since October 20.
Authorities have imposed fines totaling Rs 19.80 lakh, registered 302 FIRs, and made 337 red entries in land records.
Despite government appeals and measures, many farmers continue to burn crop residue to facilitate quick planting of the Rabi crop.
- Who
- Farmers in Punjab
- What
- Experienced a season's highest single-day spike in farm fires, bringing the total to 890 incidents since September 15.
- When
- The single-day spike of 147 incidents occurred on Monday; the period covered is from September 15.
- Where
- Punjab, with a majority of incidents in Tarn Taran and Amritsar districts.
- Why
- Farmers are burning crop residue to quickly clear fields for the Rabi (wheat) crop sowing, as the window after paddy harvest is short.
Farmers' Actions
Government Measures
Stubble Burning
Farmers' Actions
Farmers burn crop residue to quickly clear fields for the upcoming Rabi (wheat) crop due to a short sowing window.
Government Measures
Authorities are imposing fines, registering FIRs, and making red entries in land records to deter stubble burning.
Compliance
Farmers' Actions
Many farmers continue to disregard the state government's appeal to stop crop residue burning.
Government Measures
The state has seen a significant drop in farm fires compared to previous years, with 10,909 incidents in 2024 so far versus 36,663 in 2023.
- Total Farm Fires (since Sept 15)
- 890
- Highest Single-Day Spike
- 147 (on Monday)
- Leading Districts
- Tarn Taran (249), Amritsar (169), Ferozepur (87), Sangrur (79)
- Total Paddy Cultivation Area
- 31.72 lakh hectares
- Harvested Area (as of Oct 26)
- 59.82%
- Fines Imposed (Environmental Compensation)
- Rs 19.80 lakh
- Fines Collected
- Rs 13.40 lakh
- FIRs Registered
- 302
- Red Entries in Land Records
- 337
Sources
Punjab: 122 stubble burning incidents on Sunday mark highest single-day spike this season
Massive paddy stubble dump burns for over 40 hours on Sangrur-Patiala road
Punjab sees sharp rise in stubble burning with 743 cases, Amritsar and Tarn Taran lead
Punjab sees season's biggest single-day jump in farm fires
