Stubble burning

Punjab’s farm fires are down 94 per cent since 2020, yet Delhi’s air has barely improved. This report examines stubble’s true share and the other culprits.

ICAR data shows a spike in stubble burning across Punjab and Uttar Pradesh during Diwali week. Experts say crop residue fires, not crackers, are the primary reason behind Delhi’s persistent air pollution and toxic smog.

Clarifying that farmers are important for the country, CJI Gavai said that it did not mean that they would be allowed to burn stubble.

The court noted that the farmers in the state of Punjab were being asked by the state authorities to burn the stubble after specific hours to evade the satellite's attention. The court noted that officials cannot permit farmers to burn stubble, and instructed the Punjab government to issue immediate instructions to prevent such practices.

Stubble (parali) burning is a method of removing paddy crop residues from the field to sow wheat from the last week of September to November. Almost everyone has agreed that stubble burning by farmers in the nearby states, mainly in Punjab and Haryana, has been the primary reason behind deteriorating air quality in Delhi.

While states like Punjab and Haryana, historically affected by stubble burning, have shown signs of stabilisation, incidents of farm fires are on the rise in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh.

The ongoing protests in Punjab have compelled many farmers to revert to stubble burning.

Congress leader Pawan Khera slammed the Aam Aadmi Party over the air pollution in the national capital and said that the Delhi government is busy blaming the Haryana

According to Environment Minister Gopal Rai, the ban extends to the internet sale and distribution of firecrackers. "The ban on the production, storage, sale, and use of firecrackers will remain in force till January 1, 2025," Rai said in the statement.