49% increase in stubble burning incidents in Punjab

CHANDIGARH: Despite a recent ban on states near Delhi, the state of Punjab witnessed a 49 per cent increase in stubble burning incidents between September 21 and November 2 in comparison with the same period last year. According to information released by the Punjab Remote Sensing Centre, the state has recorded 36,755 cases of stubble burning this year as opposed to 24,726 in 2019. The state had witnessed 29,156 and 24,428 incidents of stubble burning in 2017 and 2018 respectively.

This has made it clear that despite the government banning stubble burning in states neighbouring Delhi, farmers in the northern state of Punjab continue to set their paddy straw on hearth. On Monday, November 2 itself, Punjab recorded 3,590 incidents of stubble burning with nearly 700 cases being reported from the Sangrur district only. Meanwhile, Bathinda, Ferozepur, Mansa and Patiala districts reported 425, 307, 301 and 287 stubble burning incidents respectively.

Farmers continue to demand Rs 200 per quintal on paddy and Rs 6,000 per acre for stubble administration in order to make them capable of handling their stubble without burning it. Punjab alone generates 20 million tonnes of paddy stubble on a yearly basis. Meanwhile, AS Marwaha, Chairman, Punjab Pollution Control Board, said that instead of pointing fingers only at Punjab and terming them as the cause for Delhi’s air pollution, authorities in Delhi must look inward in order to identify internal sources of air pollution.