As the monsoon starts to withdraw from Delhi-NCR, the Kharif harvest season has also begun, bringing with it the recurring threat of pollution in Delhi. Stubble burning has resumed in Punjab and Haryana, elevating pollution levels. Every year, stubble burning significantly contributes to air pollution in Delhi-NCR. On Monday, the Supreme Court stated it seeks a response from the Commission for Air Quality Management regarding stubble burning in the National Capital Region and its surrounding areas. A hearing on this issue is expected on Friday. Last year, the Supreme Court emphasized the need for judicial supervision to ensure that stubble burning is controlled, thereby preventing a recurrence of this issue. Official data reveal that this Kharif season alone has seen 81 incidents of stubble burning in Punjab.
Revealed Satellite Images
Data captured by NASA's VIIRS satellite sensor indicates that stubble burning incidents are concentrated near Amritsar in Punjab and Kurukshetra and Karnal in Haryana. According to VIIRS data, the last seven days have seen a spike in stubble burning activities. The Kharif harvesting season in Punjab officially starts on September 15 and continues until November 30.
According to Adarsh Pal Vig, Chairman of the Punjab Pollution Control Board, only 18 stubble burning incidents were recorded in Punjab during the first five days. However, between September 20 and 24, the number of incidents rose to 63. Data reveals a declining trend in stubble burning incidents in Punjab since 2021, with over 71,000 fires in 2021, 49,900 in 2022, and more than 36,600 during the current Kharif season in 2023.
Delhi's Air Quality Deteriorating
Source: aajtak
Source: aajtak
On Monday, Air Quality Index (AQI) readings in several areas of Delhi-NCR ranged between 210 and 263, indicating 'poor' air quality. Following a high-level meeting on winter pollution in the national capital, the central government announced that Punjab and Haryana are the primary hotspots for stubble burning and are committed to ending this practice this year. Farmers in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and some parts of Madhya Pradesh prefer to burn crop residues as it's the cheapest and quickest method of disposal.
Efforts to Curb Pollution
To assist in the eco-friendly disposal of stubble, the central government is implementing a program to buy Crop Residue Management (CRM) machines for Punjab and Haryana farmers. According to the government, this season will see over 150,000 CRM machines in Punjab, supported by 24,736 Custom Hiring Centers (CHCs). Haryana will have 90,945 CRM machines available through 6,794 CHCs.
