The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has given a cheery report to the Supreme Court of targets for a substantial reduction in incidents of paddy stubble burning for Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh in 2023 even as the national capital is smothered in acrid vapour.
As a result of various review meetings held by the Commission, the State Action Plans for Punjab for the year is “zero stubble burning” in six districts of Hoshiarpur, Malerkotla, Pathankot, Rup Nagar, SAS Nagar and SBS Nagar. The State is targeting a 50% reduction in the remaining 17 districts. The total fire counts as of October is 24,202. Last year saw 49,922 fires in the State. In neighbouring Haryana and Uttar Pradesh (National Capital Region), the States had promised “near elimination of paddy stubble burning” compared to 3,661 and 198 fire counts in 2022.
In the report filed through Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, the CAQM maintained that the “overall air quality in Delhi-NCR has witnessed an improving trend since the inception of the Commission”.
