Punjab Police register 874 cases, impose Rs 10.55 lakh fine for stubble burning

Chandigarh: In order to ensure a full stop on stubble burning, Punjab Police jointly with Civil Administration has initiated a massive campaign to educate farmers about harmful effects of burning stubble and also taking legal action against those found putting matchstick to paddy straw, said Special Director General of Police (Spl DGP) Law and Order Arpit Shukla here on Monday.

Pertinently, complying with the directions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court and Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to bring down stubble burning cases to zero, DGP Gaurav Yadav had appointed Spl DGP Arpit Shukla as the Police Nodal Officer to monitor action against stubble burning.

The DGP Punjab has also been holding meetings with all the senior officers, Range Officers, CPs/SSPs and Station House Officers (SHOs) to personally review the cases of stubble burning in the state on day to day basis.

Spl DGP Arpit Shukla said that Police teams along with Civil Administration have been making untiring efforts at the ground level to curb the menace of stubble burning in the state.

He said that DCs/SSPs and SDMs/DSPs have been conducting joint tours at villages, which have been identified as stubble burning hotspots and holding public awareness meetings with various farmer/kisan unions at district and sub-divisional level.

As many as 522 joint tours were made by DCs/SSPs and 981 joint tours were made by SDMs/DSPs in last few days, during which they held 2504 public awareness meetings, while, 2457 meetings were organised with the Farmer/Kisan Unions.

The Spl DGP said that legal action is being initiated against those found burning stubble.

Till now, 1393 farm fires were detected by satellites in the state, and joint teams were sent for inspection on the spot, he said, while adding that police teams have registered FIRs in 874 cases, while, no case of stubble burning was found at 471 spots. However, daily diary report (DDR) entries of 471 cases were made at the concerned Police Stations.

Apart from registering FIRs, he said that penalties worth Rs 10.55 lakh were imposed in 397 cases and red entries have also been made in revenue records of 394 farmers.

Spl DGP Arpit Shukla exhorted farmers to cooperate and not put matchstick on crop residue, which will not only lead to the deterioration of the environment but will also affect the health of children and elderly people.

Meanwhile, depending on the area and size of the Police Station, a sufficient number of additional patrolling parties are already activated, while, flying squads have also been keeping vigil on stubble burning.