With decline in stubble burning cases, Haryana hopes for better air quality this festival season

Pradeep Sharma

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 5

Haryana, especially National Capital Region (NCR), can hope for better air quality this festival season with the number of stubble burning cases coming downing drastically in the post-paddy harvest season.

The number of active fire locations (AFLs) for the period September 15 to October 4, mapped by the Haryana Space Application Centre (HARSAC) through remote sensing has come down from 160 (2020) to just 21 this year. In fact, 16 of the 22 districts have reported zero AFLs this year, officials told The Tribune.

What is more creditable is the fact that eight districts, Ambala, Hisar, Jind, Palwal, Panipat, Rewari, Sirsa and Rohtak, falling in the 13 Red Zone districts (traditionally reporting large number of AFLs) reported zero such incidents.

Karnal, which reported a maximum of 46 AFLs last year, reported four such incidents with Kurukshetra (31 in 2020) reporting 12 cases. Ambala reported zero cases as against 22 cases last year. In Kaithal, 2 cases were reported this year as against last year’s 21.

Sumita Misra, Additional Chief Secretary (Agriculture) claimed that Haryana Government’s proactive strategy of reducing farm fires and increasing area with zero stubble burning had paid rich dividends. “With that end in mind, the state government has appointed senior officers as nodal officers in 13 Red Zone districts for effective crop residue management,” she added.

Notably, the Haryana Government has set apart an amount of about Rs 200 crore in the year 2021-22 for the crop residue management which included liberal incentives to the farmers.

260 cases in Punjab

Punjab reported 260 cases during September 15-October 4 period as against 1,603 cases in the corresponding period last year. Amritsar reported a maximum of 161 cases as against 1,015 cases last year. Tarn Taran reported 34 cases (317 in 2020) and Ludhiana 19 cases (34 in 2020).

Zero cases in 16 Harayna districts

*During post-paddy harvest season, stubble burning cases come down to 21 from 160 last year

*Eight Red Zone districts report zero cases.

*Haryana sets apart Rs 200 crore for effective r crop residue management.