As Delhi struggles with worsening air quality, largely due to local pollution, neighboring Punjab is facing a sharp increase in stubble burning incidents. On Thursday, Punjab reported a staggering 484 stubble-burning cases, the highest in a single day for 2024, bringing the year’s total to 2,950.
Sangrur has become the epicenter of this crisis, recording 89 cases just on Thursday. Ferozepur and Mansa followed with 65 and 40 cases, respectively. Notably, Amritsar leads the state this year with 529 incidents, trailed by Tarn Taran with 444 and Sangrur with 348.
In response to the escalating stubble burning, Sangrur’s administration is taking strong measures. Deputy Commissioner Sandeep Rishi announced that strict actions are being enforced against officials who have not successfully prevented these incidents. Over the past three days, the district has seen 147 stubble burning incidents, resulting in the suspension of eight officials and the filing of cases against three under Section 14 of the Commission for Air Quality Monitoring (CAQM) Act. Additionally, letters have been sent to higher authorities to suspend three more officials.
The surge in stubble burning is largely linked to the paddy harvesting season and the disposal of crop residue. Other districts such as Patiala, Ferozepur, and Mansa have also witnessed a rise in farm fire incidents recently.
Meanwhile, Delhi’s air quality has deteriorated from ‘poor’ to ‘very poor’, driven mainly by local pollution, according to the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). While farm fires account for only 4.44% of the pollution affecting Delhi, local sources contribute over 95%. The transport sector is the leading contributor, responsible for more than half of the pollution, followed by residential burning at 13%, industrial emissions at 11%, and construction activities at 7%.
Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director of research and advocacy at the CSE, pointed out that even though farm fires contribute less than in previous years, Delhi’s air quality has still worsened. This highlights the critical role of local pollution sources and the urgent need for coordinated efforts to tackle the stubble burning crisis and other pollution challenges affecting air quality across regions.
