Kurukshetra’s air quality remains poor despite drop in farm fires

Kurukshetra’s air quality continues to remain in the ‘poor’ category despite a noticeable decline in farm fire incidents this year. According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the city recorded an average PM 2.5 level of 283 on Monday, an improvement from 344 on Sunday, but still far from satisfactory.

Environmental experts attribute the continuing poor air quality to local pollution sources and adverse weather conditions, rather than stubble burning.

As per official data, only eight incidents of farm fires were reported in Kurukshetra till Sunday. Of these, four were confirmed as paddy residue burning, while the remaining were fires in stocked straw bales.

Dr Karam Chand, Deputy Director Agriculture, said, “A total of eight farm fires were reported by HARSAC, of which four were verified in the paddy residue and action was taken in all four cases, including the registration of FIRs, imposing environment compensation charge and recording red entries. Strict monitoring in the fields resulted in a drop in farm fires. As the data shows, the farm fires and farmers can’t be held responsible for the poor air quality, as it has a very little impact on the overall conditions.”

Environmentalists, however, expressed concern over uncontrolled local activities contributing to the worsening air quality.

Dr Naresh Bhardwaj, executive member of Green Earth NGO, said, “Unmindful cutting of trees, continuous construction activities, garbage burning and vehicular traffic are some of the major contributors to the poor air quality conditions here.”

He also raised alarm over a proposal to fell thousands of eucalyptus trees planted by the Forest Department across 60 acres of Kurukshetra Development Board land near Brahma Sarovar. “We have requested the administration not to cut the trees as they work as the lungs for the city and shelter for birds. If the trees are cut, it will further deteriorate the air quality in Kurukshetra. It will be an irreparable damage to the environment, leading to ecological imbalance in the holy city,” he warned.

Officials from the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) also underlined the impact of climatic transition on the city’s air.

Nirmal Kashyap, Senior Environmental Engineer, said, “There is a significant decrease in the number of farm fires this year in the state, but only the farm fires are not the sole reason behind the air pollution. The climatic conditions play a crucial role. As the weather is in a transition phase, the air flow has reduced, resulting in a reduction of the dispersion of pollutants.”

He said road dust, construction activities, vehicular traffic and industries are currently major pollution contributors. “As the temperature is cooling day by day and the air flow is poor, making the dispersion of pollutants difficult, the air quality may witness a further dip in the coming days,” Kashyap said.

He added that regular directions were being issued to regional officers based on daily AQI levels, with inspections being intensified and action planned against violators.