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Expressing grave concern over Delhi’s air quality remaining in the ‘severe’ category for the fifth consecutive day, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said stubble burning cases related to air pollution have seen an increase of 160 per cent in Rajasthan and 20 per cent in Rajasthan. Punjab this October compared to October 2021. According to the Ministry of Earth Science, the Union Minister has also raised alarm as Delhi recorded seven “very poor” air quality days in October this year compared to none in October 2021.
Referring to findings of the India Meteorological Department and Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology under the aegis of the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Singh said, “there was a 160 percent and 20 percent increase in stubble burning cases in Rajasthan and Punjab respectively in October. 2022 compared to October 2021.” He said that the farm Fires in Punjab rose from 13,269 to 16,004 from October 2021 to October 2022 registering an increase of 20 percent, while in Rajasthan, it rose from 124 to 318 from October 2021 to October 2022 registering an increase of 160 percent. .
“This implies that the governments in the two states are not doing enough to control stubble burning and, on the contrary, are increasingly contributing to the deterioration of air quality in Delhi NCR,” said the Union Minister. The Minister, who is also in-charge of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Ministry of Earth Sciences, said that on the other hand, states like Haryana and Uttar Pradesh have recorded a progressive decline in stubble burning incidents.
“Such conclusions indicate that either the governments in Rajasthan and Punjab are not serious about air quality or they have not properly utilized the funds that were provided by the Narendra Modi government to purchase stubble management machines,” he said. Singh pointed out that since 2018-19, on the instructions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Center has provided Rs 3,138 crore to states for stubble management, of which nearly Rs 1,500 crore has been provided to Punjab alone.
“It is for the people to judge why, while many states have done considerable work in stubble management and are gradually moving in positive directions, the states of Punjab and Rajasthan continue to show further deterioration, raising several questions about their intent, sincerity and prosperity,” Singh added. He also pointed out that Haryana and Uttar Pradesh witnessed a decline in farm fire incidents by 30 percent and 38 percent respectively during the same period.
“Haryana witnessed 1,995 fire counts in October 2022 compared to 2,914 in October 2021. Similarly, UP recorded 768 fire counts this October, compared to 1,060 cases in October 2021,” Singh said. The Union Minister said in the first five days of November, the number of fire counts was much higher in Punjab than Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.
“For example, on 5 November, the number of fire counts in Punjab was 2,817 and in Rajasthan 91 respectively compared to 90 in Haryana and 24 in Uttar Pradesh respectively. The highest fire count in any single day was recorded on 2 November , when Punjab topped with 3,634 farm fire incidents and the number in Rajasthan registered up to 63,” he explained. Singh said the abnormal increase in stubble burning cases in Punjab in the first five days of November is solely responsible for plunging the air quality into the severe category.
He said that Punjab recorded 13,396 fire counts from November 1 to 5, while it was 16,004 for the entire month of October 2022. India Meteorological Department and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology under the aegis of the Ministry of Earth Sciences operated an Air Quality Early Warning. System (AQEWS).
The contribution of Stubble fire in the pollution level of PM2.5 is estimated by AQEWS. The contribution is estimated at 9.7 percent on November 1, 7.4 percent on November 2, 32 percent on November 3 and 17.8 percent on November 4. (ANI)
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is automatically generated from a syndicated feed.)
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