7,000 FIRs, No Action: Punjab’s Farm Fire Crisis and the Politics of Pollution
The Unending Cycle of Smoke and Inaction Despite years of judicial intervention and environmental alarm, Punjab’s farm fire problem remains unresolved . Between 2022 and 2024 , nearly 7,000 FIRs were filed against farmers for paddy stubble burning , a practice that contributes significantly to North India’s toxic air every winter. Yet, most of these cases have not resulted in chargesheets, convictions, or substantial penalties . The data reveals that Punjab registered 5,783 FIRs in 2024 , compared to 1,144 in 2023 and just 44 in 2022 . However, police and prosecution records show that these cases are either pending, withdrawn, or closed after nominal fines ranging from ₹500 to ₹1,000 — a symbolic rather than substantive enforcement.