More stubble trouble in Punjab: Fires fewer but area affected more

Punjab has touted the fact that the number of farm fires came down from 49,922 in 2022 to 36,623 last year, a fall of 26% in a pollution source blamed for the national capital's poor air in October and November, but it now emerges that stubble on 19 lakh hectares was burnt in 2023, an increase of 26% over the stubble on 15 lakh hectares burnt in 2022.

That area also corresponds to two-thirds of the area of paddy (rice) in the state. The data, made available by the state's own remote sensing centre highlights the apathy with which administrators, both in the state and the Centre, have approached the problem.

To be sure, Delhi's air quality is bad around the year, but stubble fires, mostly from Punjab. Haryana and Uttar Pradesh also contribute a bit-are a major source of pollutants in October and November.

"There is no doubt about the fact that the trend is very worrisome, and Punjab's prestige is also at stake. So we need to take serious steps," said KAP Sinha, special chief secretary rank Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer who heads the state's agriculture department, while addressing a day-long workshop on Wednesday to discuss steps to curb stubble burning.