📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Saras
Agriculture
Rice Straw Burning on Gulabgarh‑Behrda Road Sparks Pollution Concerns in Mohali
✍️ Amar Ujala · Mohali
🗓 12 Nov 2026, 02:32 AM
👁 13
Farmers on the Gulabgarh‑Behrda road in Mohali have set fire to rice straw, prompting warnings about air‑quality deterioration.
Recent field observations in the Mohali district show that farmers along the Gulabgarh‑Behrda road have ignited rice straw after the harvest season. The practice, commonly used to clear residual crop material, produced thick plumes of smoke that drifted over nearby villages and the main highway.
Environmental experts note that the combustion of agricultural residue releases particulate matter and greenhouse gases, contributing to short‑term air‑quality deterioration and health risks for residents. The smoke was reported to reduce visibility on the road and raise concerns among commuters.
Local authorities have issued an advisory urging farmers to adopt alternative residue‑management methods, such as mulching or using the straw for fodder, to mitigate the pollution threat. Enforcement officials indicated that repeated violations could attract penalties under state environmental regulations.
Environmental experts note that the combustion of agricultural residue releases particulate matter and greenhouse gases, contributing to short‑term air‑quality deterioration and health risks for residents. The smoke was reported to reduce visibility on the road and raise concerns among commuters.
Local authorities have issued an advisory urging farmers to adopt alternative residue‑management methods, such as mulching or using the straw for fodder, to mitigate the pollution threat. Enforcement officials indicated that repeated violations could attract penalties under state environmental regulations.