Smoke from farm fires drifting onto highways and village roads also reduces visibility
11 May, 2026 – Amritsar : Even as the administration continues to claim a decline in farm fire incidents across the district, vast stretches of roadside green belts and tree lines alongside highways and link roads are bearing visible signs of damage caused by recurring stubble burning.
Visits to rural roads found crop residue fires spread beyond fields into roadside green belts, leaving trunks charred and shrubs destroyed.
“It is strange that the administration has not hyped its action taken against these fires which was the case during previous seasons. May be this is an election year and the government does not want to annoy any section,” said Rajinder Singh, a local activist.
Environmentalists and residents say the impact goes far beyond temporary smoke pollution. Repeated exposure to intense heat weakens roadside trees, damages bark and roots, reduces the lifespan of plantations and affects biodiversity in the area. Small plants and nesting habitats for birds and insects are often destroyed in the process.
Locals travelling on rural roads said that while the number of officially reported farm fires may have reduced compared to previous years, farmers in several areas continue to use fire as the quickest and cheapest method to clear crop residue after harvesting. They added that many incidents occur during late evening or night hours when there is less monitoring.
The issue has also raised concerns over road safety.
Smoke from farm fires drifting onto highways and village roads reduces visibility, particularly during early morning and late evening hours, increasing the risk of accidents. Fire often spreads to dry grass and roadside plantations, causing long stretches of green cover to wither.
Agriculture expert Dr Tejinder Singh pointed out that burning stubble not only damages the environment, but also reduces soil fertility by destroying beneficial microorganisms and organic nutrients present in the topsoil. Continuous burning can harden soil and increase long-term dependence on chemical fertilisers, he said.
Officials maintain that awareness campaigns, subsidies on residue-management machinery and strict penalties have helped reduce the number of fire incidents in recent years. However, environmental activists argue that the damaged condition of roadside green belts across many parts of the district reflects that the practice still remains widespread on the ground.
The Tribune