CHANDIGARH: Punjab recorded 1,152 farm-fire incidents on Diwali, November 8, marking the sharpest single-day spike in stubble-burning cases this season. The surge came as Delhi woke up to heavily polluted air on Monday, with the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) touching 366 in the morning.
The latest figures took Punjab’s cumulative farm-fire count this season to 4,459, up from 3,307 a day earlier. The incidents represent a 34.8 per cent increase in 24 hours, according to data compiled under the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) protocol.
Of the 4,459 reported incidents, 2,998 fields had been inspected and 1,317 were physically verified as stubble-burning cases, India Today reported.
Tarn Taran recorded the highest number of reported fires at 684, followed by Ferozepur with 592. Sangrur and Bathinda were also among the districts reporting a high number of incidents.
The spike coincided with a deterioration in Delhi’s air quality after Diwali celebrations. The city recorded an AQI of 366 at 6.15 am on Monday, placing it in the very poor category, according to the Central Pollution Control Board’s data cited by Hindustan Times. Several monitoring stations reported severe air quality.
Firecracker emissions added to pollution from vehicles and other sources. Unfavourable weather conditions and low wind speeds also hindered the dispersal of pollutants.
Stubble burning in neighbouring states was among the contributors to Delhi’s pollution, though its estimated contribution to the city’s pollution load was around 3.5 per cent on Sunday, according to the Decision Support System for Delhi cited by Hindustan Times.
The rise in farm fires came despite enforcement measures by Punjab authorities. Data up to November 8 showed that 884 FIRs had been registered under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and environmental compensation of Rs 62.55 lakh had been imposed. Of this, Rs 32.60 lakh had been recovered.
The increase also comes as the paddy harvesting season nears its end, with farmers facing a narrowing window to prepare fields for wheat sowing.
With input from media reports.