Punjab Announces Action Against Farmers |Burning Crops| Residue
Key Takeaways
- The Punjab government has banned the burning of crop residues across the entire province to curb rising air pollution and smog.
- The Punjab Environmental Protection Department (EPD) formed a special 24-hour monitoring squad for strict enforcement.
- Monitoring teams are focusing on hotspot areas along Motorways M-1, M-2, M-3, and M-4, with deployments in several key districts.
- Officials warned that residue burning causes severe pollution, aggravates smog, and creates serious public health risks.
- Farmers are being educated on eco-friendly alternatives, and violators face swift punitive action.
The Punjab government has implemented a comprehensive ban on the burning of crop residues throughout the entire province, including major cities like Lahore, as a critical measure to control escalating air pollution and smog levels. The Punjab Environmental Protection Department (EPD) issued a formal notification prohibiting farmers from burning post-harvest crop materials in their fields. To ensure rigorous compliance, the EPD Director General established a dedicated 24-hour monitoring squad tasked with continuously observing areas along Motorways M-1, M-2, M-3, and M-4 known for frequent incidents. Special teams have been deployed in several districts, including Sheikhupura, Gujranwala, and Kasur, ready to take immediate action against violators. Authorities stressed that this practice contributes significantly to severe environmental pollution, exacerbates smog, and endangers public health. The department has instructed field teams to impose swift punitive measures, while simultaneously educating farmers about the hazards and promoting the adoption of alternative, environmentally sound waste management techniques. Furthermore, the Director General of Agriculture and all Deputy Commissioners have received directives to enhance inter-departmental cooperation for the ban's effective, coordinated enforcement across Punjab.
