Fewer stubble fires in NCR in past month compared to 2020: Pollution panel

According a report based on the protocol framed by Isro for the pollution body, incidences of paddy residue burning have reduced 69.49% in Punjab, 18.28% in Haryana and 47.61% in the eight NCR districts in Uttar Pradesh between September 15 and October 14

Incidents of paddy stubble burning in northern India have been significantly lower for the past month, compared to the same period last year, said the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) on Friday.

Grass near a farmland set on fire in Mayur Vihar in New Delhi on Friday. Stubble fires in NCR usually peak in end-October and early-November. (Sanchit Khanna/HT Photo)

The stubble burning season have had a slow start this year, the daily fire count is likely to reach around 3,000-4,000 by late October and early November.(HT )

According a report based on the protocol framed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) for CAQM, incidences of residue burning have reduced 69.49% in Punjab, 18.28% in Haryana and 47.61% in the eight NCR districts in Uttar Pradesh between September 15 and October 14. The reported residue burning events in Punjab in this period were 1,286, as against 4,216 last year. Similarly, in Haryana there were 487 stubble fires reported, against 596 for the corresponding period last year. In Uttar Pradesh’s eight NCR districts, 22 stubble fires were reported, down from 42 last year.

No fire counts have been reported from Delhi and two NCR Districts of Rajasthan.

To be sure, experts have said that while the stubble burning season have had a slow start this year, the daily fire count is likely to reach around 3,000-4,000 by late October and early November.

“The major hot spots of paddy residue burning in Punjab are Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Patiala and Ludhiana — these four districts account for 72% of stubble burning events [in the state]. Similarly, the major hot spots in Haryana are Karnal, Kaithal and Kurukshetra. These three account for 80% of incidences [in the state],” a statement from CAQM said.

Delhi’s air quality index (AQI) hit 198 on Friday, according to the CPCB daily bulletin, up from 182 on Thursday.