Amritsar's Muzzafarpur village became volatile on Thursday when farmers who were burning stubble in their fields engaged in clashes with government officials attempting to prevent them. In spite of repeated warnings by the government and environmentalists, farmers persist with stubble burning, resulting in confrontation and police intervention.
The authorities stated that a team arrived in the fields after hearing reports of crop residue burning. According to the officials when they asked the farmers to stop the fire, a heated altercation ensued.
Some farmers were reported to have acted aggressively and prevented the officials from doing their work. The administration lodged a written complaint with police and accordingly the investigation and verification of the identity of people involved was initiated.
This accident is among numerous unsettling Punjab, where stubble burning continues to be a nagging problem. Punjab Pollution Control Board statistics have indicated that from September 15 till date, Punjab has witnessed 27 instances of stubble burning in just five days alone, with 18 cases reported alone from Amritsar district.
In spite of awareness activities and stringent fines (up to Rs 1 lakh as environmental compensation), numerous farmers still burn their fields, primarily because they have no economical means of residue disposal.
Farmers claim the urgency to clear land for the next wheat season, with the expense and shortage of machinery such as combine harvesters or shredders, means there is no alternative but to burn the straw. Others believe they are unfairly stigmatised, citing industrial pollution as a greater cause of air quality issues.
The government of Punjab launched tough measures to check the practice. Villages are surveyed and risk-stratified to prioritize interventions, and the fines are tiered depending on the size of area burnt, from Rs 5,000 to Rs 30,000.
Offenders are prosecuted under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for repeat offences. The state also encourages sustainable options such as stubble being used for biofuel or blending residue back into fields, facilitated by subsidies and machinery schemes.
The urgency in addressing this issue is also propelled by the imminent winter smog season. Stubble burning remains a primary cause of toxic air pollution in northern India, especially n the areas around the capital Punjab. The thick smog exacerbates respiratory ailments and affects daily life, and hospitals report a rise in patients during winters.