Bathinda: Punjab recorded 151 farm fire cases on Wednesday, down sharply from 584 a day earlier, but its seasonal tally stands at 2,347, or 48.9% of the 4,800 incidents reported across seven states till Nov 4.The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) pulled up Punjab and cited Haryana as a model for curbing stubble burning through better planning and paddy residue management.CAQM chairperson Rajesh Verma held a video conference with Punjab’s secretary (environment), deputy commissioners and SSPs of 12 districts, taking serious note of the high number of farm fires. The commission directed authorities to intensify monitoring and enforcement and hold nodal officers accountable for inadequate surveillance and failure to prevent incidents. It warned that any laxity would invite strict action.Rajasthan has reported 949 cases so far, followed by Madhya Pradesh (865), Uttar Pradesh (392), Uttarakhand (183), Haryana (62) and Delhi (2).The commission also reviewed the ground-level deployment and effectiveness of police personnel and nodal officers, suggesting that local community leaders be involved through confidence-building measures. It asked district and state administrations to promote the use of paddy straw in boilers through ex-situ management to maximise stubble aggregation.Madhya Pradesh recorded the highest number of farm fires on Wednesday at 157, followed by Punjab (151), Rajasthan (111), Uttar Pradesh (33), Haryana (10) and Uttarakhand (5). Tuesday’s count in Punjab had been the season’s highest at 584, accounting for 73% of the 798 cases reported across six states.
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