Farm fire cases dip, air quality unchanged

Punjab experienced a dramatic shift in stubble-burning incidents within 24 hours, with reported cases plummeting from 1,251 on Monday, the season’s highest, to just 270 on Tuesday.

The sharp decline comes after widespread concerns over air pollution caused by farm fires, which have become a recurring issue during the paddy harvesting season.

On Tuesday, Moga registered 33 farm fires, followed by Muktsar (31), Bathinda (27), and Sangrur (24). Experts said the delay in paddy harvesting, coupled with relatively high temperature and sluggish procurement of harvested crop, had left farmers with little choice but to burn stubble to prepare fields for the next season.

“The delay in harvesting, coupled with logistical challenges in lifting paddy from fields, has narrowed the window for farmers to manage stubble,” said Agriculture Department officials conducting field visits.

However, despite a drop in the number of farm fires, the impact on air quality remains significant. Amritsar recorded the highest air quality index (AQI) of 292, followed by Khanna (261), Jalandhar (227), Ludhiana (225) and Patiala (224).

Ravindra Khaiwal, nodal officer at the Centre of Excellence on Climate Change & Air Pollution, emphasised that while stubble burning was not the sole contributor to pollution, it exacerbated the existing levels.

“When stubble burning incidents spike, the resulting emissions add to existing pollutants from vehicles, construction and waste burning, pushing air quality into the severe category, especially in Delhi,” Khaiwal said. Punjab’s high stubble-burning activity combined with wind pattern toward Delhi worsened the capital’s air quality, he added.