This time, eight districts of Punjab and Haryana will be under special surveillance for stubble burning. Last year, the incidence of stubble burning had reduced in the remaining districts of these two states. With the return of monsoon, pollution caused by stubble smoke also becomes a concern for the people of Delhi-NCR.
This time, eight districts of Punjab and Haryana will be under special surveillance regarding stubble burning. Last year, incidents of stubble burning had decreased in the rest of the districts of these two states. However, an increase in incidents of stubble burning was observed in these eight districts. Due to this, this time, prevention of incidents of stubble burning in these districts is being taken as a challenge.
With the return of monsoon, pollution caused by stubble smoke also becomes a concern for the people of Delhi-NCR. Every year, after harvesting the paddy crop, the residue left behind is burnt in the fields, which creates smoke in a large area. At that time, due to the north-westerly direction of the wind, this smoke starts coming towards Delhi-NCR. The smoke of stubble combined with other weather factors starts suffocating people. Due to this, for the last ten years, efforts are being made to stop the incidents of stubble burning. If we look at the data of the last four years, it has reduced by more than fifty percent.
In comparison to the year 2022, in the year 2023, there was a 27 percent reduction in the incidents of stubble burning in Punjab and 37 percent in Haryana. In all the districts of both these states, a decrease in the incidents of stubble burning was recorded as compared to earlier, but there were eight districts where the incidents of stubble burning increased instead of decreasing. According to sources, due to this, special monitoring is being done on these eight districts this time.
There has been a reduction in incidents by more than 50 percent
Compared to four years ago, the incidents of stubble burning have almost halved. However, the smoke from the stubble burning still troubles people a lot. According to the Central Air Quality Management Commission, a total of 87 thousand 632 incidents of stubble burning were recorded in the year 2020. In comparison, 39 thousand 186 incidents were recorded in the year 2023. That is, there has been a reduction of more than fifty percent in the last four years.
Cases of stubble burning had increased here
According to the Central Air Quality Management Commission, there were three districts of Punjab and five districts of Haryana where incidents of stubble burning had increased in the year 2023 as compared to the year 2022. These include Amritsar, Sas Nagar and Pathankot districts of Punjab and Rohtak, Bhiwani, Faridabad, Jhajjar and Palwal of Haryana. Preventing incidents of stubble burning in these eight districts is going to be a challenge this time. Preparations have already been started for this.
Smoke troubles Delhi-NCR for 40 days
Although burning of agricultural residues starts in the fields of Punjab and Haryana only after the harvesting of paddy, but it increases rapidly after 15 September. Due to this, it is monitored from 15 September itself. Its regular bulletin is also issued. The maximum incidents of stubble burning occur between 15 October to 25 November, about 40 days. It is during this time that people have to face the most problems.
Four-year data
Stubble burning cases of the year
2020 87632