New Delhi: In the last few days, there has been a sudden spike in stubble-burning cases in Punjab where harvesting is expected to peak in the next couple of weeks. The detected incidents of stubble burning in Punjab on October 29, 2023, alone was 1,068.
The Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and adjoining Areas (CAQM) today advised the State Governments of Punjab and Haryana to mobilize the entire State administrative machinery to take all preventive and corrective measures for control of stubble burning as per the Framework and Action Plans, for further focused attention to ensure that the gains achieved are not lost and the momentum is maintained in the coming days.
The Commission said it was regularly reviewing the implementation of action plans for control of stubble burning in Punjab and NCR States. It said that it was also monitoring the paddy stubble burning incidents and taking them up with State Governments of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh daily including with Chief Secretaries and Deputy Commissioners of the districts concerned.
It may be mentioned that stubble-burning incidents are reported as per the standard protocol developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for the Commission.
Today’s Air Quality Index in Delhi
Incidentally, despite the sudden spike in the cases in Punjab, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change today claimed a reduction in stubble-burning incidents in Haryana, Punjab, Delhi National Capital Region (NCR) comprising regions of Uttar Pradesh as well as Rajasthan.
During the 45 days in the current paddy harvesting season – between September 15, 2023, and October 29, 2023, the total stubble burning incidents in Haryana, Punjab, NCR – UP, NCR- Rajasthan and Delhi came down from 13,964 in the corresponding period in 2022 to 6,391 in 2023 and from 11,461 in the corresponding period in 2021 to 6,391 in 2023, a reduction of 54.2% & 44.3 % respectively.
“A series of interventions by various stakeholders including frequent review and daily monitoring have resulted in bringing down stubble burning incidents significantly in the last two years,” the Ministry stated.
Concerning Punjab, the Ministry said the total stubble-burning incidents detected in the state during these 45 days was 5,254 as against 12,112 in 2022 and 9,001 in 2021.
The farm fire events reported in Punjab during this period of the current year were 56.6% and 41.6% lesser as compared to the corresponding periods in 2022 and 2021 respectively.
In Punjab, the single-day highest fire count during this year was reported on October 29, when it was 1,068 as against 2,067 reported on October 28 in 2022 and 1,353 reported on October 29 in 2021.
The five Districts of Punjab where maximum stubble burning has been detected in the current year so far, with the number of incidents are as follows: –
Amritsar – 1,060
Tarn Taran – 646
Patiala -614
Sangrur -564
Firozpur -517
In Haryana, the total stubble burning incidents detected during the 45 days were 1,094 as against 1,813 in 2022 and 2,413 in 2021.
The farm fire events reported in Haryana during the current year were 39.7% & 54.7% less as compared to the corresponding periods in 2022 and 2021 respectively.
In the state, the single-day highest fire count during this year was reported on October 15, which was 127 as against 250 reported on October 24 in 2022 and 363 reported on October 15 in 2021.
The five Districts of Haryana where maximum stubble burning has been detected in the current year so far, with the number of incidents are as follows: –
Fatehabad -180
Kaithal – 151
Ambala -147
Jind -132
Kurukshetra -120
The Central Government has so far released funds to the tune of about Rs. 3,333 crores under the Crop Residue Management Scheme, to the State Government of Punjab, NCR States and the Government of National Capital Territory (GNCT) of Delhi for subsidised procurement of machines by individual farmers/custom hiring centres and cooperatives to facilitate in-situ management of paddy straw as also for baling / raking machines and equipment to facilitate ex-situ applications.
The total amount of crop residue management (CRM) machines available in Punjab was 1,17,672, in Haryana – 80,071 and in UP- NCR – 7,986. Additionally, action is underway to procure an additional 23,000 CRM machines in Punjab, 7,572 in Haryana and 595 in Uttar Pradesh for NCR to augment availability during the current harvesting season, the Ministry stated.
As of now, there is a substantial reduction in paddy stubble burning incidents compared to previous years, the Ministry reiterated.
– global bihari bureau
