Punjab recorded the highest number of agricultural fires in a day (3,230); certain areas of Haryana have "severe" air quality

 Punjab recorded the highest number of agricultural fires in a day (3,230); certain areas of Haryana have "severe" air quality

According to the statistics, 56% of all stubble burning incidences this season have been registered as farm fires.

Many locations in Haryana have "very poor" and "severe" air quality ratings.

The biggest number of agricultural fires registered in a single day this season in Punjab was 3,230 on Sunday, while the air quality in several areas of Haryana was rated as "very poor" or "severe."

Based on statistics from Punjab Remote Sensing Centre, the overall number of stubble burning occurrences in Punjab this season is 17,403, including the 3,230 new agricultural fires. According to the statistics, 56% of all stubble burning incidences this season have been registered as farm fires.

Nonetheless, compared to 29,400 instances reported during the same time last year, there were 41% fewer stubble burning events from September 15 to November 5 this year. In Punjab, 28,792 agricultural fires were recorded in the same time frame in 2021.

Sangrur stated that the largest number of stubble burning occurrences on Sunday was 551, out of 3,230 total. 189 in Barnala, 179 in Moga, 177 in Tarn Taran, 299 in Ferozepur, 293 in Mansa, 247 in Bathinda, as well as 169 in Patiala came next. On November 5, 2021, and November 5, 2022, the state registered 5,327 and 2,817 agricultural fires, respectively.

The statistics indicated that Sangrur topped the list of the 17,403 agricultural fires reported this season with 2,698, followed by 1,830 in Ferozepur, 1,762 in Taran Tarn, 1,432 in Amritsar, 1,261 in Patiala, as well as 1,256 in Mansa. Punjab documented cases of stubble burning in the following years: 50,590 in 2018, 76,590 in 2020, 71,304 in 2021, and 49,922 in 2022.

Data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) shows that Bathinda had an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 375, Mandi Gobindgarh 291, Khanna 255, Patiala 248 and Ludhiana 243 in Punjab. An AQI of 0 to 50 is regarded as "good," 51 to 100 as "satisfactory," 101 to 200 as "moderate," 201 to 300 as "poor," 301 to 400 as "very poor," and 401 to 500 as "severe."

Many locations in Haryana have "very poor" and "severe" air quality ratings. Based on CPCB statistics, the following cities had the highest Air Quality Index (AQI): Faridabad (450), followed by Fatehabad (442), Kaithal (434), Hisar (427), Gurugram 402, Jind 401, Sirsa (390), Rohtak 362, Panipat 346, Kurukshetra 330, as well as Karnal 341.

The combined capital of Punjab and Haryana, Chandigarh, with an AQI of 212. One of the main causes of the concerning increase in air pollution levels in Punjab and Haryana, as well as their neighboring regions, including Delhi, in October and November is thought to be the burning of paddy straw in those two states.

Some farmers burn their fields to remove crop waste immediately after rice harvest since there is a very little window of opportunity for growing wheat, a crucial crop for rabi. Punjab generates 180–200 lakh tons of paddy straw annually over an area of around 31 lakh hectares used for paddy production. Out of this, around 30 lakh tonnes were handled using ex-situ techniques (using stubble as fuel) and 120 lakh tonnes using in-situ techniques (mixing crop residue in fields).