Stubble burning in Punjab? Not this year, govt unveils aggressive new strategy to stop it cold

With the stubble burning season in the corner, the Punjab government issued a more strict and technology -supported strategy to cope with the annual air pollution crisis. As reported by TOI, this year’s approach combines the application of satellite supervision, field level accountability and implementation of penalties, all of them are compatible with the High Court instructions and the Air Quality Management Commission (CAQM).

After struggling to control the farm fires last year, Punjab developed the standard operating procedure (SOP), the peak period for stubble burning before the next October -November Paddy Harvest.

Key upgrades include:

• Common Satellite Monitoring with Isro and Punjab Remote Perception Center (PRSC)
• Real -time fire warnings sent to field personnel via SMS via GPS and Google maps connections

Village risk profile based on past fire data:

• High Risk: More than 30 events
• Middle Risk: 10-30 Events
• Low Risk: 1-10 Events

Planning meetings at regional level with DCS, SDMS and Agricultural Authorities must be finalized by 1 August.

Satellite warnings must be verified on the ground

The Environment Department required civil servants to personally verify the case of “lack of crop burning” reported against a satellite warning. Within the scope of the new notification made by Secretary Priyank Bharti, such layoffs are now:

• Geographical Tagged photos
• GPS data in 350 meters
• Verification signed by senior officials (DCS, ADCs, SDMs or CAQM observers)

If any warning is not properly verified, it will be considered as stubble burning incident and solid legal action will be taken under the Supreme Court/NGT/CAQM orders.

Penalties and Fulkler: Here is what criminals encounter

Punjab revised the penalty structure for farmers to deterd violations:

• 5,000 RS for less than 2 acres
• 10,000 RS for 2-5 acres
• 30,000 RS for more than 5 acres

Process Timeline Tight:

• DETERMINATION TO THE Field Verification: within 48 hours
• PENALTY EXPORT: within 7 working days
• Good improvement: within 15 days

Repeat the criminals and those who do not pay a fine will encounter the brushs in accordance with the 223th episode of Bharatia Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The police are directed to protect a separate Fir Diary for such cases.

Department tasks clearly defined

The Punjab government facilitated the responsibilities for all relevant departments:

A PPCB official told TOI that all executive personnel will receive training:

• Satellite image interpretation
• Verification protocol
• Digital Data Entry and Compliance Monitoring

Caqm calls zero tolerance

At the July 3 meeting, the CAQM president emphasized the need for “zero tolerance için to burn the crop remains. General Director of Police (Law and Order), “This is a collective effort, solid practice, farmer awareness and technology will increase change,” he said.

All regions should finalize local action plans until August 1st.

Entrances from TOI