A special correspondent, Vishal Rambani is the bureau chief at Patiala. He covers politics, crime, power sector, environment and socio-economic issues, with several investigative stories to his credit.
Articles by Vishal Rambani
Punjab farm fires nosedive to 599, lowest since October 25
Punjab on Sunday registered 599 cases of farm fires, lowest since October 25and over four times less than what was reported the previous day
Updated on Nov 06, 2022 11:03 PM IST
Vishal Rambani and Vishal Joshi, Bathinda/patiala
Punjab sees 2,666 stubble fires, over 90% in Malwa
The Air Quality Index (AQI) has turned ‘very poor’ in several parts of Punjab as stubble fires continue unabated. Out of the 2,666 incidents, 92% cases were reported from the Malwa region
Published on Nov 04, 2022 12:54 AM IST
Vishal Rambani, Patiala
Fewer farm fires in Punjab; 1,501 farmers penalised in Haryana
Of the 2,666 incidents on Thursday, 92% cases were reported from the Malwa region. Sangrur recorded the highest farm fire count for the seventh consecutive day as 452 cases were reported form the district.
Published on Nov 03, 2022 11:50 PM IST
Vishal Rambani and Neeraj Mohan
At 3,634, farm fires leap to another high in Punjab
Punjab on Wednesday recorded 3,634 farm fire cases, which was not only the highest in a day for the current harvesting season but also the highest in the last three years for November 2.
Published on Nov 03, 2022 12:32 AM IST
Vishal Rambani, Sangrur
Wind speed brings down AQI but farm fires double
Farm fires in Punjab surged to their highest levels this season, prompting experts to sound warnings of severe air pollution in the Capital in the coming week even though there was a slight respite on Wednesday, and sparking a political war of words over the annual crisis.
Updated on Nov 03, 2022 12:56 AM IST
Jasjeev Gandhiok, Soumya Pillai and Vishal Rambani, New Delhi/sangrur
No respite from Punjab farm fires, Sangrur leads the count again
According to the state’s agriculture department, the district has witnessed the highest number of farm fires every Kharif season since 2016, when the Punjab Remote Sensing Centre started mapping farm fires through satellite
Updated on Nov 02, 2022 03:12 PM IST
Vishal Rambani, Sangrur
Brothers’ mantra for stubble trouble: Why burn when you can earn
While the Punjab government is arranging visits of state industrialist to Shree Ganesh Edibles Pvt Limited, Amloh in Fatehgarh Sahib district, to see and adopt the technology, businessmen from Maharashtra, Gujarat and neighbouring Haryana are keen to replicate the model
Published on Nov 01, 2022 08:20 PM IST
Punjab has 80% of stubble burning cases in North India: Central body
With the spike in farm fires, the air quality index of the state has also started deteriorating.
Updated on Oct 30, 2022 06:47 AM IST
Vishal Rambani, Patiala
At 2,067, stubble fires double in a day in Punjab
In a major spike in the stubble burning, Punjab recorded 2,067 farm fires on Friday, which is not only the highest of this season so far but is almost double the previous day’s figures
Updated on Oct 29, 2022 05:07 AM IST
Farm fires: Punjab surpasses last year’s figures
On Thursday, Punjab recorded 1,111 farm fires, taking the number of stubble-burning incidents to 8,147. So far, the majority of the farm fires have been reported from Majha districts
Published on Oct 28, 2022 02:13 AM IST
Vishal Rambani & Anil Sharma, Patiala/tarn Taran
Farm fires in Punjab pick up as harvest winds up
Farm fires are expected to get more intense now with the farmers wrapping up harvest late this year due to heavy rains in September. The late surge, however, provided the much needed relief to Delhi-NCR where air quality on Diwali remained relatively cleaner both because of amenable weather conditions as well as lower contribution of farm fires to air pollution
Published on Oct 27, 2022 12:16 AM IST
Punjab saw 55% of this season’s farm fires in last 5 days
Satellites of Punjab Remote Sensing Centre on Wednesday detected 1,238 active fires in the state; on October 26 last year, there were just 329 active fire events while in 2020, 2,047 incidents were captured
Updated on Oct 26, 2022 09:03 PM IST
Vishal Rambani, Patiala
Guidelines go up in smoke, air quality dips in Punjab post-Diwali
Though the govt claimed a reduction in pollution vis-à-vis the previous Diwali, Punjab’s air quality index dropped from 153 (moderate) to 224 (poor) in a day
Published on Oct 26, 2022 12:51 AM IST
Diwali cracker guidelines go up in smoke, air quality dips in Punjab
Diwali night witnessed the highest number of farm fires of this season as 1,019 incidents were reported from Punjab. Tarn Taran, Patiala and Gurdaspur districts recorded over 100 farm fires each
Updated on Oct 25, 2022 03:36 PM IST
Unlicensed firecracker sales rule the roost in Punjab, ‘green cracker’ shoppers disappointed
The shops, stalls selling crackers without following the guidelines could be seen in most of the localities including those markets which are not accessible to the fire tenders.
Updated on Oct 23, 2022 10:57 PM IST
Vishal Rambani/Anil Sharma, Patiala/amritsar/jalandhar
At 582, farm fires in Punjab jump to daily high, but no drastic drop in air quality
Apart from Mandi Gobindgarh, where the air quality index jumped to 226, considered “poor”, the air quality in most of Punjab was within “moderate” or “satisfactory” levels
Published on Oct 23, 2022 01:16 AM IST
Vishal Rambani, Patiala
Freebies’ fiscal cost: Punjab doles out ₹50-cr daily power subsidy
State’s subsidy bill has reached to whopping ₹24,865 crore, including arrears of ₹9,020 crore, for providing free electricity but state has managed to pay only ₹8,611 crore.
Updated on Oct 20, 2022 11:22 PM IST
Vishal Rambani, Patiala
70% stubble burning cases in Punjab from Majha alone
Of the total 2,625 stubble burning cases reported in Punjab so far this year, 1,823 cropped up in Majha region alone
Published on Oct 20, 2022 01:01 AM IST
Vishal Rambani, Patiala
Punjab sees two-fold jump in farm fires in a day
Another highest-single day spike as 403 incidents reported on Monday, Tarn Taran tops state with 170 cases
Published on Oct 18, 2022 12:13 AM IST
Vishal Rambani, Patiala
Punjab allows use of green crackers for 2 hours on Diwali, Gurpurb
The order says that on Diwali (October 24) and Gurpurb (November 8), green crackers can be burst from 8 pm to 10 pm and in two shifts from 4 am to 5 pm and 9 pm to 10 pm respectively
Published on Oct 13, 2022 03:25 AM IST
Vishal Rambani, Patiala
Punjab | Farm fires likely to rebound as rain delays paddy harvesting
With the region witnessing overcast skies and a temperature dip in the midst of the paddy harvest season, worries of the Punjab agriculture department pertaining to farm fires have increased manifold. Experts say farmers are more likely to burn stubble to make up for the lost time and quickly prepare their fields for the next crop
Published on Oct 11, 2022 01:58 AM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber & Vishal Rambani, Chandigarh/patiala
‘UDAN’ fails to take-off in Punjab; Incurs ₹3.45-cr losses to state
The scheme failed to take-off in Ludhiana, Pathankot, Adampur (Jalandhar) and Bathinda airports, while most of these stations as per officials have a vast scope for air traffic.
Published on Oct 06, 2022 10:52 PM IST
Vishal Rambani, Patiala
Stubble burning cases see a spike in Punjab, 350 cases recorded so far
As per the data provided by the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB), with 284 cases, Amritsar has reported the maximum number of farm fires so far while Tarn Taran, with 39 cases, stands at the second place. On Monday alone, the state witnessed 75 cases out of which 54 were reported from Amritsar and 12 from Tarn Taran. Ferozepur, Patiala and Gurdaspur districts reported two cases each on the day.
Published on Oct 04, 2022 02:08 AM IST
Vishal Rambani, Patiala
Sidhu begins 9-day ‘maun vrat’ during navratras
The former cricketer’s wife Navjot Kaur Sidhu, who is using his twitter handle, tweeted that Sidhu will not meet anyone for the next nine days and observe silence
Published on Sep 27, 2022 02:25 AM IST
Vishal Rambani, Patiala
Within 6 days of paddy harvest season kicking off, Punjab sees over 100 stubble burning cases
With 119 cases, Amritsar has reported the maximum number of stubble burning cases in Punjab so far. On Thursday alone, the district had 29 cases, while the day before, the count stood at 49; paddy harvesting starts early in Majha area of Punjab, which comprises Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Pathankot and Gurdaspur districts.
Published on Sep 22, 2022 11:12 PM IST
Vishal Rambani, Patiala
Freebies working against future of Punjab: Union power minister RK Singh
While addressing members of Patiala Industrial Association here, Union power minister RK Singh said that the financial situation of Punjab was deteriorating due to the state government’s free electricity promise
Updated on Sep 19, 2022 07:40 PM IST
Vishal Rambani, Patiala
VB issues look-out circular against 2 ex-ministers, 3 former IAS officers
The Punjab VB will probe the role of former ministers, former chief secretary, and former irrigation secretaries for their alleged role in omission and commission of the scam
Updated on Sep 19, 2022 12:28 AM IST
Vishal Rambani, Chandigarh/patiala
Five-star resort, plush apartments, prime properties: Punjab motor vehicle inspector lived life king-size
Kaler, who has a diploma in mechanical engineering, also owned luxury vehicles, costly watches, perfumes, and several imported gadgets
Published on Sep 15, 2022 01:24 AM IST
After top excise officials, ED raids properties of Punjab MLA Jaswant Singh
While the residences of top Punjab excise officials in connection to the alleged Delhi liquor scam, the ED searched Punjab MLA Jaswant Singh’s properties over allegations of ₹40.92 crore bank fraud
Updated on Sep 08, 2022 04:36 PM IST
Vishal Rambani, Patiala
PSPCL witnesses peak power demand even in September
Due to increase in temperature, demand of power in Punjab has increased unprecedentedly not only during March to April but persistent dry weather in August and September is not letting the demand come down and peak demand in last four months
Published on Sep 08, 2022 06:08 AM IST
Vishal Rambani, Chandigarh
