A total of 404 incidents of stubble burning have been recorded across Punjab as of Tuesday, 21 October 2026, with Tarn Taran and Amritsar accounting for the highest share of cases, according to a report by the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB). First information reports (FIRs) have been registered in 39 cases, and authorities have imposed environmental compensation totalling ₹7.20 lakh across the state.

District-wise Breakdown

Of the 404 incidents logged statewide, 198 were reported in Tarn Taran — the single highest district count — where 176 fields were inspected and stubble burning was confirmed at 75 sites. Amritsar recorded 117 incidents, with 111 fields inspected and 42 cases confirmed on the ground.

Other affected districts include Gurdaspur (23 incidents), Kapurthala (16), Ferozepur (14), Jalandhar (5), and Patiala (4). In Patiala, three fields were inspected and burning was confirmed at two locations.

Enforcement and Penalties

Of the 404 recorded incidents, 358 fields have been inspected, with stubble burning confirmed at 151 locations statewide. An environmental compensation of ₹10,000 per case has been imposed, with the total liability reaching ₹7.20 lakh; of this, ₹3.40 lakh has already been recovered, officials said.

In addition to the 39 FIRs, authorities have made 'red entries' in revenue records for 106 cases — a measure that restricts future land transactions — and have issued 152 warning notices to erring farmers. 'The administration continues its efforts to curb stubble-burning incidents in Punjab,' officials stated.

CAQM Expands Remote Monitoring in NCR

In a related move, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has tightened its surveillance mechanism for air-polluting industries in the National Capital Region (NCR). The Commission has extended the mandate for Pan-Tilt-Zoom (PTZ) cameras to all industry categories covered under Statutory Direction No. 98, superseding its earlier order of 5 October 2026.

The expanded directive covers all 17 categories of highly polluting industries identified by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Red Category (Medium and Large) air-polluting industries, Food and Food Processing and Textile units with boilers or thermic fluid heaters, and Metal industries operating furnaces in the NCR. All covered units must complete PTZ camera installation and real-time video transmission by 30 November 2026.

Why This Matters

Stubble burning in Punjab and neighbouring Haryana is a seasonal flash point that contributes significantly to the air quality crisis in the Delhi-NCR region each October and November. This is the period when post-harvest burning of paddy residue peaks, historically sending the Air Quality Index in Delhi to 'severe' or 'hazardous' levels. The PPCB numbers, though early in the season, signal that enforcement on the ground remains a challenge, given that confirmed burnings account for just over a third of incidents inspected so far. The CAQM's PTZ expansion is a parallel attempt to close monitoring gaps in the industrial sector, which compounds agricultural emissions during winter.

What Happens Next

Enforcement agencies are expected to intensify field inspections as the paddy harvest peaks in the coming weeks. Recovery of the remaining ₹3.80 lakh in outstanding environmental compensation and the progress of the 39 registered FIRs will be closely watched as indicators of whether deterrence is strengthening. Industry units in the NCR face a hard deadline of 30 November 2026 for PTZ camera compliance or risk action under CAQM directions.