Tarn Taran, Ferozepur and Sangrur reported the highest number of cases as many farmers continued to ignore government advisories against burning crop residue.Tarn Taran, Ferozepur and Sangrur reported highest number farm fires as many farmers continued to ignore government advisories.. Chandigarh,Nov 10, 2026 12:58 ISTPunjab recorded 198 fresh farm fires on Monday, taking the total number of such incidents to 4,657 during the monitoring period, according to news agency Press Trust of India.Tarn Taran, Ferozepur and Sangrur reported the highest number of cases as many farmers continued to ignore government advisories against burning crop residue.Official data showed that Tarn Taran recorded the most farm fires at 659, followed by Ferozepur with 621, Sangrur with 508, Bathinda with 412, Patiala with 299 and Amritsar with 247.Authorities have imposed fines totalling Rs 72.85 lakh as environmental compensation in 1,442 cases.

Of this, Rs 33.60 lakh has been recovered so far, PTI reported. The data showed that 938 first information reports were registered over farm fires during this period under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which deals with disobedience of an order issued by a public servant.State authorities have also made 1,150 red entries in the land records of farmers who burnt crop residue.

These include 310 entries in Tarn Taran and 192 in Ferozepur. A red entry prevents farmers from securing loans against their farmland or selling it.

The annual monitoring of farm fires begins on September 15, two weeks before paddy procurement starts on October 1.Stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana is often blamed for an increase in air pollution in Delhi-NCR. With little time available to sow wheat after the paddy harvest in October and November, some farmers set fire to their fields to clear crop residue quickly.Punjab recorded 5,114 farm fires during the 2025 paddy harvesting season.

The state reported 10,909 such incidents in 2024, compared with 36,663 in 2023.In the latest monitoring period, Punjab has recorded 4,657 farm fires, with authorities imposing fines, registering cases and marking red entries in land records to act against crop residue burning.- Ends