More farm fires due to early harvest: Experts

New Delhi, October 17

Punjab and Haryana have recorded more incidents of stubble burning this season and it is largely due to early harvesting of paddy and unavailability of farm labour due to the Covid pandemic, officials said on Saturday.

According to the Punjab Pollution Control Board, the state has recorded 4,585 farm fires so far. The number was 1,631 during the corresponding period last year.

Haryana has also recorded an increase in farm fires — from around 1,200 incidents till October 16 last year to 2,016 this year. Karunesh Garg, Member Secretary of the Punjab Pollution Control Board, however, said the number of stubble-burning incidents seemed more because of early harvesting of paddy this year. — PTI