2 states log 1,569 cases in 10 days
Punjab today reported 13 incidents of stubble burning while Haryana saw none as the Supreme Court asked the two states to explain the rise in the number of farm fire cases in the last 10 days of October.
Editorial: Pollution crackdown
Within a span of 10 days leading up to October 31 (Diwali), the two states have witnessed 1,569 cases — Punjab has reported 1,440 cases and Haryana 129 — leading to the deterioration of air quality in the region. As many as 4,145 cases have been reported in Punjab this year, while the count is 857 in Haryana. Punjab has seen an uptick in the incidents of paddy residue burning over the past two weeks. The state, which had registered 1,510 farm fire cases till October 21, witnessed 1,440 incidents over the next 10 days (till Diwali) — nearly 49 per cent of the total 2,950 farm fires reported till then. As many as 484 incidents were witnessed on Diwali, the most in 10 days.
In the first four days of November, the state has already added 1,195 cases to the total count. While 587 incidents were reported on November 1, these dipped to 379 on November 2 and further to 216 on November 3. Interestingly, a day after the Punjab Government initiated criminal proceedings against at least nine officials of three districts for failing to check farm fires, the incidents dropped to 13 today.
Haryana had recorded 655 cases till October 21 and the count rose by 129, nearly 20 per cent of the total cases, to 784 on Diwali. The maximum number of incidents, 42, were reported on Diwali. In the first four days of November, the state has added 73 cases to the total count.
On Monday, Hisar emerged as one of the most polluted cities in the country, registering an AQI of 379. Fatehabad recorded an AQI of 322, while Gurugram and Manesar reported AQIs of 310 and 305, respectively, all falling in “very poor” category.
