📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / John Rostron
Agriculture
Five Locations in Patiala Witness Straw Burning in Single Day
✍️ Amar Ujala · Patiala
🗓 12 Oct 2026, 06:46 PM
👁 15
Five separate sites across Patiala reported incidents of straw burning on the same day, raising concerns over air quality and agricultural practices.
Patiala district saw five distinct locations experience straw burning within a 24‑hour period, according to local reports. The incidents were reported by residents and confirmed by the fire‑brigade, which dispatched teams to each site to contain the flames.
No injuries or major property damage were reported, and the fires were extinguished within a few hours. However, the smoke generated from the burning contributed to a noticeable rise in particulate matter, prompting health officials to advise vulnerable groups to limit outdoor exposure.
The Punjab Agriculture Department reiterated that open‑field burning of crop residues is prohibited under state regulations due to its impact on air quality and public health. Authorities indicated that they will increase monitoring and enforce penalties for violations to deter future occurrences.
Environmental NGOs have called for the promotion of alternative residue‑management practices, such as mulching or bio‑energy conversion, to reduce reliance on burning. The repeated incidents underscore the ongoing challenge of balancing agricultural efficiency with environmental safeguards in the region.
No injuries or major property damage were reported, and the fires were extinguished within a few hours. However, the smoke generated from the burning contributed to a noticeable rise in particulate matter, prompting health officials to advise vulnerable groups to limit outdoor exposure.
The Punjab Agriculture Department reiterated that open‑field burning of crop residues is prohibited under state regulations due to its impact on air quality and public health. Authorities indicated that they will increase monitoring and enforce penalties for violations to deter future occurrences.
Environmental NGOs have called for the promotion of alternative residue‑management practices, such as mulching or bio‑energy conversion, to reduce reliance on burning. The repeated incidents underscore the ongoing challenge of balancing agricultural efficiency with environmental safeguards in the region.