Air quality in Punjab worsens as paddy stubble set afire at night to escape penal action

Farmers have started disposing of paddy stubble at night after crackdown on farm fires was intensified, exacerbating pollution and increasing health risks.

According to investigations by The Tribune, farmers in several districts are resorting to burning stubble at night so as to avoid daytime surveillance and penalties from law enforcement agencies, creating a blanket of smog overnight.

The shift has created an alarming public health crisis. High moisture levels at night prevents the smoke from dispersing, resulting in dense smog that lingers and exacerbates respiratory problems among vulnerable groups, including children and the elderly.

Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) Chairman Adarshpal Vig expressed a grave concern over the development, emphasising the harmful impact of these fires. “The practice poses health risks to the elderly and children as the smoke does not fly away and can trigger cough and allergies,” Vig stated.

The PPCB, in collaboration with the local law enforcement authorities, has tightened noose around those burning fields to get rid of crop residue. However, many farmers have found a loophole in satellite monitoring. By setting fields ablaze late in the evening, they evade detection and potential fines. During a visit to Nabipur village in Patiala district and Badli and Chunni in Fatehgarh Sahib district, The Tribune observed multiple farm fires.

An official of the Punjab Pollution Control Board, seeking anonymity, indicated that the actual number of farm fires might be higher than what is reported. “All incidents of farm

fires do not get detected,

as satellite imaging is not conducted round-the-clock,” the official explained, adding that technical limitations often prevent detection of night fires through satellite.

Despite appeals from the administration against setting fields afire, farmers argue that burning is the most practical way to quickly clear fields. They say alternatives such as mulching or using machinery for residue management, are either costly or time-consuming.

Amritsar most polluted

With the AQI of 368 and 339, which fell in ‘very poor’ category, Amritsar and Ludhiana were the most polluted cities in the state on Saturday. Bathinda breathed better with 142 points. The AQI of Mandi Gobindgarh was 204, Jalandhar 266 and Patiala 244, all in the ‘poor’ category.

379 fresh cases in state, Sangrur district tops list

• As many as 379 incidents of farm fire were reported from the state on Saturday
• Sangrur district topped the list with 66 cases followed by Ferozepur (50), Tarn Taran (42), Amritsar (27), Bathinda (28), Mansa (21), Moga (26) and Patiala (21)
• The state has witnessed 3,916 paddy stubble burning incidents this year
• In contrast, 11,262 cases were reported during the corresponding period last year, registering a decline of 66%