As the wheat harvesting season is underway, incidents of wheat stubble burning have begun surfacing in several districts.
According to information, 88 cases of wheat stubble burning have been reported in Jalandhar district. The cases have emerged from Shahkot, Nakodar, Adampur, Phillaur, Jalandhar-1 and Jalandhar-2 blocks, where wheat has been cultivated over nearly 1.71 lakh hectares.
Environmental compensation has been imposed in 41 cases, while an FIR under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) has also been registered in Jalandhar-2 block. In addition, red entries have been made in 38 cases.
To curb the practice, the Agriculture Department has stepped up its awareness initiatives. So far, 152 awareness camps have been organised across the district, while two awareness vans are moving through villages to educate farmers about the harmful effects of stubble burning and the alternative methods available for crop residue management.
Chief Agriculture Officer Jaswinder Singh said the department is making continuous efforts to sensitise farmers. “The department is adopting every possible measure to ensure that farmers are made aware and informed about various methods to manage crop residue effectively,” he said.
Earlier, in an effort to encourage sustainable farming practices, the department had also launched a social media campaign featuring videos of farmers who have avoided stubble burning for several years. Along with the videos, the department shared the contact details of the farmers so that others interested in adopting alternative methods could interact with them and learn from their experiences.
The department has also uploaded awareness and success-story videos on its YouTube channel, Safal Kisan, to promote eco-friendly crop residue management practices among farmers.
Campaign intensified in Nawanshahr
Meanwhile, with the wheat harvesting process for the Rabi 2026 season nearing completion, the campaign against stubble burning has also been intensified in Nawanshahr as well.
The Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare is conducting extensive Information, Education and Communication activities, including village-level camps, van campaigns and street plays to spread awareness among farmers.
As part of the campaign, Chief Agriculture Officer Dr Lekh Raj Mahi visited village Souna in Nawanshahr block to review field-level activities. He said wheat straw bales are being prepared in the district through machines to ensure scientific management of crop residue.
