As the paddy harvest, the key Kharif (summer) season crop, gains pace in Punjab, the perennial problem of stubble burning, an aggravator of air pollution, is also on the rise. The State has so far witnessed 656 farm fire incidents, up by around 63% against the corresponding period of the previous year.
The Punjab Pollution Control Board data shows that during the ongoing Kharif season (September 15-November 30) as many as 656 cases of farm fire occurrence have been reported in the State till October 4. By comparison, the same period last year saw only 415 such incidents. The data, based on satellite imagery, reflects a rise of 241 cases. The numbers are even more stark when seen in light of the fact that by October of 2021, only 260 farm fire incidents had been recorded.
Also read: Punjab govt.’s anti-pollution promise set for ‘field trial’
