With 350 farm fires, Karnal tops in air pollution

Parveen Arora

Tribune News Service

Karnal, October 21

Karnal continues to lead the state in air pollution through burning stubble.

As per the satellite data, Karnal has reported 350 cases of farm fires till Tuesday. However, the number of active fire locations (AFL) is less in comparison to last year, which was 584 till October 19, 2020.

The department has recommended FIR against 28 farmers, while a penalty of Rs 4.30 lakh has been imposed on 171 farmers of the district.

State reports 1,082 incidents

• According to the data with the Agriculture Department, the Nissing block has reported maximum 88 AFLs, followed by Assandh (87), Gharaunda (64), Karnal (50), Nilokheri (45) and Indri (16)
• The satellite data says that Haryana reported 1,082 cases of farm fires in comparison to 2,811 till October 19, 2020. On Dusshera, the state reported maximum stubble burning incidents across the state at 363

“The satellite data has sent us report of 350 fire incidents, of them we have found 294 AFLs. We are keeping a vigil on fire incidents. Penalty is being imposed and FIRs recommended,” said Aditya Dabas, Deputy Director, Agriculture.

DC Nishant Kumar Yadav said teams had been deployed in village blocks and sub-division level to check stubble burning incidents. “I appeal to the farmers to not burn stubble, but instead utilise it for profit by managing it in a better way,” the DC said.

294 active fire locations

The satellite data has sent us a report of 350 fire incidents. Of them, we have found 294 active fire locations. We are keeping a vigil on fire incidents. Penalty is being imposed and FIRs being recommended. —Aditya Dabas, Deputy director, Agriculture

The satellite data says that Haryana reported 1,082 cases of farm fires in comparison to 2,811 till October 19, 2020.

As per the experts, the air quality of cities of the state has turned poor. A relief was recorded after the rain on Sunday, but the quality deteriorated again.

The data collected from the Pollution Control Board today till 4pm shows a grim picture of the state. Ballabgarh has 339 AQI, which falls in very poor category. Karnal (205), Rohtak (243), Jind (268), Hisar (202), Gurugram (235), Faridabad (224), Bahadurgarh (215) fall in poor category. Bhiwani has AQI of 176, Fatehabad 130, Kurukshetra 194, Panipat 167, Sirsa 109, Sonepat 153, Yamunanagar 156. They fall in moderate category.

An official of the Haryana State Pollution Control Board said apart from stubble burning, factories, vehicles and other sources also contributed to air pollution.