Stubble burning down by 72% in state
PATIALA: Despite farmer unions’ defiance, Punjab has witnessed a decline in the stubble burning cases between October 11 to 20 leading to less pollution in the state, the National Capital Region (NCR) and Delhi.
Data from Punjab remote sensing centre shows that 1,584 cases of stubble burning were reported in the state from October 11 to 20, which is 72% less than last year figure of 5,787 in the corresponding period.
“This is an optimistic trend. Farmers are willingly shunning this practice. The machinery provided by the Punjab government at subsidised rates to handle paddy straw has helped the farmers to shun the practice,” said SS Marwaha, chairman of the Punjab Pollution Control Board.
Due to less fire incidents, the air quality index of Punjab is much better than that in the corresponding period last year. The PM 10 level (presence in the air of particles with a diameter of less than 10 micrometres) is also down considerably as its average is 169 micrograms/m3, which was 444 last year.
Similarly, the PM 2.5 (presence of particles in the air with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometres) is 83 micrograms/m3, which was 252 micrograms/m3 last year. This indicates that the air quality is much better this year in October, which witnesses maximum stubble burning incidents.
The AQI index of Punjab is 153 which was 326 last year. An AQI between 0 and 50 is considered good, 51 and 100 satisfactory, 101 and 200 moderate, 201 and 300 poor, 301 and 400 very poor.