Stubble still burning in Punjab, Haryana
actions which are listed in the severe-plus category,” the body said in a statement.
A final decision will be taken on Thursday evening, according to EPCA member Sunita Narain.
With visibility falling to an alarming 50 metres in some parts, pile-ups were reported at multiple locations. On the Yamuna Expressway, over 20 vehicles collided and around 22 people suffered minor injuries on Wednesday morning.
For the second day in a row, operations at the Delhi airport were hampered and there were delays of up to two hours.
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PATIALA: Politics is likely behind the smog choking you.
Wrangling for a sizeable farmer vote bank may have encouraged stubble burning in Punjab in recent weeks that has contributed to a toxic haze that has engulfed most of north India. In Haryana too, crop residue fires have raged on despite several measures.
Punjab enforced a system to file police complaints against farmers who burnt crop residue and incentivised them to stop the practice after layers of smog blanketed the Capital last year. But the campaign ran into trouble last month after all political parties in the state decided to back farmers and oppose punitive action — allegedly with an eye on the 70% population of the state with direct or indirect ties to farming.
On October 8, Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh said no punitive action would be taken against farmers as there was no solution for “handling large quantity of straw”. Aam Aadmi Party leader Sukhpal Singh Khiara burnt paddy residue at Ludhiana to support farmers. Not to be left behind, the Akali Dal also lent their support to the farmers.
Since that day, officials told Hindustan Times that no one dared enter the fields as emboldened farmers surrounded anyone who tried to stop burning crop residue.
Only 53 FIRS were registered till October 21 this year against 255 cases last year.