Stubble burning crisis persists, government efforts fall short

Punjab and Haryana claim farm fires dropped by 50%, yet recent data shows 36,663 cases in Punjab and 2,303 in Haryana, revealing gaps.

- NEERAJ MOHAN

As winter approaches, Delhi and its neighboring regions brace for the annual onslaught of choking smog, transforming once-clear skies into a thick, toxic haze. Delhi's air quality has plummeted once again, with a 24-hour Air Quality Index (AQI) of 327, categorised as "very poor." With weather conditions unfavourable for the dispersal of pollutants, there seems to be little hope for improvement in the coming days.

At the heart of this environmental crisis lies the contentious issue of stubble burning in the leading agricultural states of Punjab and Haryana. Despite years of government initiatives including subsidies, penalties, and even arrests-thousands of farmers continue to set fire to their paddy fields, raising serious concerns about the effectiveness of state and central government efforts in achieving the elusive goal of zero farm fires.

While both Punjab and Haryana boast of progress, claiming a 50% reduction in farm fires over recent years, the reality paints a less optimistic picture. Between September and November 2023 alone, Punjab reported 36,663 cases of stubble burning, and Haryana registered 2,303 incidents. Though these numbers represent a decline, they fall far short of the comprehensive solution that the government had promised.

Moreover, the Supreme Court has expressed its frustration, calling the state governments' actions "mere eyewash." Chief Secretaries from Punjab and Haryana were slammed for their apparent failure to adequately address the problem.