Decline in stubble burning cases, but air quality continues to be poor in Kurukshetra
Despite a drop in the farm fire incidents, the air quality in the district continues to be on the poor side with the air quality index (AQI) recording an average particulate matter (PM) 2.5 at 227 on Friday.
As many as 100 incidents of farm fires have been reported in this season so far; incidents on 70 locations have been verified.
Taking action against the offenders, the Agriculture Department has imposed environment compensation charge (ECC) of Rs 1.50 lakh on 60 farmers, and made 63 red entries in the farm records of offenders.
Vehicles, industries to blame
The farm fires have only 4-8 per cent contribution in the impact on air quality. The vehicular, industrial and other reasons, including the climatic conditions, play a major role in the air quality. The AQI (Air Quality Index) was on the poor side today in Kurukshetra, but we are hopeful that it will improve in a couple of days.
Dr Karam Chand, Deputy Director, Agriculture, Kurukshetra
There have been only 11 cases reported over the past one week in the district, but still the air quality continues to be in the poor category.
Deputy Director Agriculture (DDA), Kurukshetra, Dr Karam Chand said: “Red entries have been made in the record of all 63 offenders on Meri Fasal Mera Byora portal and police complaints have also been made against all of them. The farm fires have only 4-8 per cent contribution in the impact on air quality. The vehicular, industrial and other reasons, including the climatic conditions, play a major role in the air quality. The AQI (Air Quality Index) was on the poor side today in Kurukshetra but we are hopeful that it will improve in a couple of days.”
The DDA informed that nearly 3.20 lakh acres was under the paddy cultivation in the district this year from which about 6 lakh tonne paddy straw is generated. Of the total area, nearly 99 per cent harvesting has been completed so far. The total area in which the farm fires have been detected was merely 32 acre. The department has made sincere efforts to control the farm fires.
Meanwhile, taking a serious note of the situation, the district administration has given a two-hour window to burst green crackers on Diwali. As per the orders of the Deputy Commissioner, people can burst crackers on Diwali and Gurpurab for two hours from 8 pm to 10 pm.
Deputy Commission Rajesh Jogpal said: “A close watch is being kept on the farm fire incidents. As soon as any farm fire incident is reported, the teams deputed in the field reach the spot and take action. Crackers also play a major role in air pollution. Following the suggestions from the Haryana State Pollution Control Board and the directions from the state government, a ban has been imposed on bursting, sales and manufacturing of crackers except the green crackers from October 22 to January 31.”
