Satellite monitoring process takes a hit due to thick smog
At 498 AQI, Rohtak was worst-affected followed by F’bad, Jind
As per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), AQI in ‘poor’ category can lead to breathing discomfort on prolonged exposure, respiratory illness if it is in the ‘very poor’ category and cast adverse affects on healthy people and serious impacts on those with existing diseases if it dips further in the ‘severe’ category.
At 498 AQI, Rohtak remained the worst affected followed by Faridabad at 496, Jind at 491, Gurugram at 486, Manesar at 486, Fatehabad at 478, Kaithal at 467, Panipat at 465, Karnal at 456, Palwal at 453, Hisar at 445, Kurukshetra at 442, Sirsa at 432, Ambala at 403, Yamunanagar at 396 and Bhiwani at 343.
Member secretary S Narayanan said the number of stubble burning cases increased marginally from 4,341 on Saturday to about 4,396 on Sunday.
501 CASES REGISTERED AGAINST STUBBLE BURNERS
“Total 501 first information reports (FIRS) have been registered against those found burning stubble,” the HPCB member secretary said. “The state government has also announced an award of ₹1,000 for informers who tip off the authorities,” Narayanan added.
A senior official said there has been a 15% reduction in the number of stubble burning cases as compared to the corresponding period in 2018.
The area under stubble burning has also seen 34% reduction in Haryana this year as compared to the corresponding period in 2018.
Crop residue burning was reported on 57,000 hectares in 2018 as compared to only 38,000 hectares (approx) this year, an official spokesperson said.