Punjab has recorded a high number of stubble-burning incidents this year compared to last year. Till November 3, the state had recorded around 6.37 lakh hectares of burnt paddy. The practice is continuing despite the declining air quality in Delhi and nearby regions.
According to the Punjab Remote Sensing Centre (PRSC), the state has an estimated 28.52 lakh hectares (70.44 lakh acres) under rice cultivation. 22% of it has already been burnt. 4,257 fire incidents were recorded till yesterday.
Sangrur recorded the most number of farm fires. However, Amritsar topped in terms of burnt area with only one-third of Sangrur's fires. In Sangrur, of an estimated 2.12 lakh hectares under paddy, the district burnt 70,350 hectares (1.74 lakh acres) 33% of the total area. Amritsar, which has 1.81 lakh hectares under rice, has already burnt 68,760 hectares, reported The Indian Express.
Tarn Taran is in third place with 32% burnt area and 59,690 hectares of rice area. It has seen 2,912 fire incidents. Some districts also recorded over double the burnt area under paddy compared to last year.
Kapurthala burnt 34,900 hectares (29%), Ferozpur burnt 41,730 hectares (25%), Jalandhar burnt 34,000 hectares (25%), Gurdaspur burnt 36,000 hectares (22.5%), Patiala burnt 47,260 hectares (21%), Muktsar burnt 32,600 hectares (19.5%), Bathinda burnt 33,000 hectares (19%), and Ludhiana burnt 36,290 hectares (14%).