Deficit rain, farm fires fuel rising pollution in Punjab
The post-monsoon season has witnessed 79 per cent deficient rainfall in the state. According to the meteorological department, from October 1 to November 23, the state witnessed only 2.5 mm rainfall during this period when 11.6 mm rainfall is considered to be normal. Deficit rain for nearly two months coupled with farm fires post afternoon and low wind speed is leading to rising air pollution in the state.
According to Chandigarh Meteorological Department Director Surinder Paul, there is no respite in sight in the coming days as well. He said the weather would continue to remain dry with no possibility of rainfall.
“We witnessed cloud cover in some parts of the state today due to western disturbances in the Jammu and Kashmir region. However, it is a temporary development and the conditions would remain foggy and dry for few more days,” said Paul.
Cases of farm fire are down, but the air quality index (AQI) continues to remain in the ‘poor’ category in all major cities of the state. Besides, the trend of post afternoon stubble burning also continues in the region with blanket smog enveloping the region during the evening.
After reaching the peak burning phase, the farm fire incidents took a downward trend with 162 farm fires reported on Saturday, taking the total stubble burning count to 10,605.
Ludhiana topped the list with 28 stubble burning incidents, while Mansa, Fazilka and Barnala reported 19, 16 and 15 farm fires, respectively.
The state witnessed 1,251 incidents of farm fires — the highest in the season — on November 18. The first spike in farm fires was witnessed around Diwali when 484 and 587 incidents of stubble burning were reported on October 31 and November 1, respectively.
The second wave in the farm fires began on November 8, when 730 incidents of stubble burning were witnessed across the state. Thereafter on November 10, 11, 13, 15 and 17, the state reported 345, 418, 509, 238 and 404 farm fires in a single day, respectively, resulting in the deterioration of air quality not only in the region but also in Delhi-NCR.
The farm fire cases contributed to the rising pollution levels in Ludhiana, taking the count to 256. The air quality of Amritsar showed improvement and reached 185. People in Bathinda breathed ease with AQI turning to double digit of 87. However, Jalandhar’s air continued to remain poor with AQI reaching 226, followed by Khanna (209), Mandi Gobindgarh (188) and Patiala (219).
