{
  "id": 8449605,
  "title": "Not in favour of FIRs against farmers over stubble burning: Punjab CM Mann",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/19/not-in-favour-of-firs-against-farmers-over-stubble-burning-punjab-cm",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-19T11:44:28.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Hindu",
    "slug": "the-hindu",
    "url": "https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/punjab/not-in-favour-of-firs-against-farmers-over-stubble-burning-punjab-cm-mann/article71484467.ece"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann recently expressed that he does not support filing of FIRs against farmers for stubble burning. He emphasized that paddy growers should be given a cash incentive for not setting their crop residue on fire. The remarks came as the paddy harvesting season in Punjab begins. Stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana is a major contributor to air pollution in the Delhi-NCR region. Many farmers resort to burning their fields to quickly clear the crop residue before the Rabi crop (wheat) follows in October and November. Mr. Mann highlighted that Punjab's contribution to the central pool of paddy is 180 lakh metric tonnes, but the Centre does not consider the amount of stubble in that quantity. He urged the Centre to give financial incentives to farmers for managing paddy stubble instead of registering FIRs. Mr. Mann also pointed out that farmers themselves do not wish to burn paddy stubble as the smoke affects them directly. He expressed displeasure with the blame directed towards Punjab for air pollution, questioning if it's only their smoke in the air.",
  "summary": "Stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana is often blamed for increased air pollution in the Delhi-NCR region. Due to the short window for the Rabi crop (wheat) after the paddy harvest in October and November, many farmers burn their fields to quickly clear the crop residue",
  "key_points": [
    "Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann opposes FIRs against farmers for stubble burning.",
    "He proposes cash incentives for farmers to avoid burning crop residue.",
    "Mann criticizes Center for not recognizing Punjab's significant paddy contribution."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Indian Express",
        "title": "‘I am a friendly insect… you try to kill me’: Mann to farmers at PAU",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/19/i-am-a-friendly-insect-you-try-to-kill-me-mann-to-farmers-at-pau",
        "published": "2026-09-19T07:44:11.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}