PRSC expresses serious concerns as stubble burning cases increase

Head of ACM division, Anid Sood, has expressed his concerns over increasing air pollution. According to Punjab Remote Sensing Centre (PRSC), more straw burning has been recorded in 2019. "If we see the records from September 23 to October 21, the fire incidents have increased from the last year. So far, 3,466 incidents have taken place. Last year, till October 21, it was 2,575," he said this while speaking to a news agency in Ludhiana.

An official from the PRSC also informed a news agency that Tarantara town in Punjab has reported the highest number of fire incidents with 736 cases. Following Tarantara is Amritsar on number two position on the list with 597 cases and Patiala on number 3 with 439 fire incidents.

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239 stubble burning cases in Gurdaspur

Ferozabadpur in Punjab has reported around 311 fire incidents and, Gurudaspur has recorded 239 stubble burning incidents. Each year when farmers of Punjab and Haryana begin the burning process of the leftover crop residue, the pollution in its neighbouring National Capital reaches the 'hazardous' category.

Stating that they have no other alternative, the poor farmers have been burning the stubble even after the ban being imposed. According to the farmers, they are facing an acute shortage of Happy Seeder Machines. The farmers have also stated that the price of the machine does not fall within the limit of their affordability.

Yearly re-occurring problem

Stubble burning begins in the State of Punjab and Haryana after the monsoon season ends. The stubble burning is done by the farmers to clear the fields for the plantation of the new summer crop. Smoke from these two States is often responsible for dangerous levels of air pollution in the National Capital Region of Delhi. To add to the already bad air quality, the situation worsens when thousands of firecrackers light up the sky and leave behind dangerous smoke during the Diwali week. 

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Punjab CM suggests on subsidising farmers

Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh had earlier suggested that if stubble burning has to be stopped in Punjab, then the Central Government should compensate Rs. 100 extra per quintal on the produce of farmers. "We have deputed officers in every district to control pollution in the State. Punjab's people should think about air pollution," Singh said.

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READ | Punjab farmer demands suitable compensation to stop stubble burning

(With inputs from ANI)