Post rain, stubble burning resumes

Prince Ashok

Bathinda, November 20

After rain, the stubble burning activity has resumed in the district, leading to a rise in pollution level in the city.

Some days ago, people got a relief from dense smog as rain settled the dust particles in the air.

Despite repeated warnings, farmers are setting their paddy fields afire. Farmers are unable to understand the drawbacks of stubble burning.

The resultant air pollution creates skin cancer, asthmatic diseases and other respiratory problems.

After rain, the data collected by the Punjab Pollution Control Board during the past few days shows that there had been a decrease in air pollution level at all stations when it was monitored.

Now, circumstances have totally changed and air pollution level has increased again.

Dr Bharathri said, “Patients suffering from allergies have increased in the city after October.”

It has been found that most of the particulate matter is released due to the burning of crop residue.

Due to this, more patients suffering from the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are visiting hospitals.

Dr Bhupinder Singh Khudian, a local environmentalist, said, “The farmers should wake up from their slumber as smog has engulfed the whole area. The government should need to find out permanent solution to resolve the problem. The only way is to implement strict rules but before doing this, they can provide at least two combine harvester machines in every village free of cost.”

Bhinder Singh, a farmer, said, “We can never press the stubble deep into the earth as it is costly proposition. Neither can we afford costly agriculture devices to remove it.”