Friday, 17 May, 2024
By: Yash Gupte
Delhi and the adjoining areas have been covered under a thick layer of smog as the AQI levels crossed 450. Image Source: IANS
The data from Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARC) shows that the farm fires instances of stubble burning in Punjab from September 15 to October 31 have increased by 21% compared to the previous year
The data from the System of Air Quality Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) shows that the daily contribution of stubble burning to PM 2.5 levels in Delhi so far this year has been lower compared to previous years. 3 November, this season recorded the highest contribution (34%) from stubble burning to PM 2.5 levels in Delhi on a single day. The peak single-day contribution last year was higher at 48% on November 7. In the past five years, the highest contribution on a single day was recorded on November 5, 2018 at 58%. On 13 November ,the contribution of stubble burning was 24%, higher than the 17% recorded on 12 November and 19% recorded on 11 November.
According to Priyank Kanoongo, chairman of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), stubble burning in Punjab has been severely affecting the AQI levels in Delhi. He also said that the current situation is due to the lapses on the part of the Punjab government. The political parties have been playing a blame game instead of finding a concrete solution for the problem. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is in power in both Punjab and Delhi. When the Congress was in power in Punjab, the AAP government in Delhi blamed stubble burning in Punjab for Delhi’s pollution. But now, they both blame the central government.
The chart below shows the instances of farm fires in Punjab from 15 September to 31 October.
Source: Indian Agricultural Research Institute
The instances of farm fires increased from 13,269 to 16,004 in 2022. Higher instances of stubble burning shows that farmers prefer traditional method of burning the stubble rather than going for the alternatives. This is despite the alternatives offered in Punjab by the previous Congress government and the current Bhagwant Mann-led AAP government.
Some of the alternatives offered by the government include providing rotobeater machines to farmers through a subsidy scheme which would chop instead of burning the stubble. But while speaking to the media, Punjab farmers said that machines won’t help since cutting the stubble increases the chances of insects damaging their harvest. Farmers added that the fuel required to run the machines lead to higher costs.
This shows that despite the alternatives offered by the government, the instances of stubble burning are on an increase in Punjab and has been severely affecting the AQI levels in Delhi. According to Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB) AQI bulletin on Tuesday, Delhi was the most polluted city in the country with AQI levels reaching above 420. The CPCB had predicted the Delhi’s AQI to remain in ‘very poor’ to ‘severe’ categories for the next five days. Experts said that the air quality in Delhi remains worst during the first 15 days of November as the stubble burning is at its peak during this period.
The chart below shows the major contributors to the pollution and rising AQI in the capital region.
Source: Council on Energy, Environment and Water.
Stubble burning or waste burning is the largest contributor of pollution in Delhi from 15 October to 15 November which is the peak period of stubble burning in the states of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. Dust remains the second largest contributor during this period. Later, in the period between 15 November to 15 December, stubble burning, dust and household heating & cooking contributed equally to the pollution in Delhi. Household heating and cooking contributes maximum (32%) to the pollution in the capital in the period between 15 December to 15 January.
Many Delhi residents have complained of breathing problems as a result of the city's hazardous air, with the elderly and young children suffering the most. According to medical professionals, prolonged exposure to hazardous air, especially in the morning, might cause major health issues
The air quality index between 400 to 500 is considered as severe and may cause respiratory issues in healthy people and serious health issues in people with lung/heart diseases.
Data shows that stubble burning is one of the major contributor of pollution in Delhi NCR and needs to be addressed in an effective manner at the earliest. The central and the state governments need to work hand in hand with a spirit of cooperative federalism and take major steps towards addressing the issue of stubble burning in northern India.
