Can’t be blamed for Delhi’s pollution, says Punjab govt

Though there has been a spurt in farm fires over the weekend, Punjab agriculture secretary Kahan Singh Pannu says that the state’s paddy farmers are not to be blamed for the pollution in the national capital region.

“The problem lies within Delhi. The pollution there is not because of Punjab farmers. The air quality index (AQI) of Punjab is 150, while in Delhi it’s more than 350. So how can they blame us?” Pannu said.

The AQI in Punjab is better than that in Haryana that borders Delhi, where the AQI is very poor.

Though satellite images show the number of paddy stubble burning cases trebled in three days, it’s still less than the number of fires in the corresponding period in previous years, said Pannu, who is the Punjab nodal officer to check stubble burning.

Till October 29, there were 14,152 cases of paddy stubble burning as compared to the 19,283 in 2017 and 26,257 in 2016 during the corresponding period.

“Don’t go by the number of fires shown in satellite images. In many areas, there was symbolic burning of straw on less than a few square yards but that has been recorded. The AQI is better than last year when it was 300, thus area and the quantum of stubble burning are less this time,” he said

The satellite records a fire incident larger than five feet. Actual farm fires are lower than the dots shown in satellite images. Field staff has been deputed to cross check and report, he said.

The AQI of Punjab is 150, while in Delhi it’s more than 350. How can they blame us? KAHAN SINGH PANNU, state agriculture secretary